NPA rebels raid vice mayor’s house

SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA)rebels stormed the house of Vice Mayor Emmanuel Suarez of Cortes town in Surigao del Sur yesterday and took several firearms.

At least 30 rebels said to be members of the Northeastern Mindanao regional committee arrived at Suarez’s house in Barangay Mabahid at around 6:45 a.m. and held him and his granddaughter at gunpoint.

“Suarez and his granddaughter were not harmed. Only the firearms were seized,” said Senior Inspector Clark Abiya, Cortes police chief.

Quoting Suarez, Abiya said the NPA rebels aired their gripes about the fishing ban in municipal waters and inaction on illegal logging.