Communist rebels disarm guard in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels disarmed a security guard of a local water district here, around 8:25 p.m., Sunday.

Superintendent Renante Cabico, city police director, said the suspects seized from Jelmar Toranio of the RGSPS Security Agency, an Armscor shotgun and a handheld radio, while he was patrolling a watershed at Barangay Perez, here.

Toranio told Cabico two armed men, at gunpoint, seized his issued shotgun. They also took the handheld radio and the base radio, both owned by the Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD), reports said.

The suspects were armed with a hand grenade, a short firearm, and a long gun, according to Toranio.

One of the suspects identified himself as a certain commander Malisod of the NPA.

Toranio, sensing he was overpowered, yielded his gun and other things to the rebels.

Cabico immediately ordered a manhunt and pursuit operations of the suspects.

The MKWD is protecting the watershed from slash-and-burn loggers and illegal occupants in Barangay Perez, as one of the sources of the fresh and clean drinking water for the city and nearby towns in Makilala, Magpet, and Matalam, all in North Cotabato.

The watershed is heavily secured by guards of the RGSPS Security Agency.

The watershed is located at the foot of Mount Apo, the country's highest peak and home to Philippine-monkey eating eagle.