Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Rebels attack village chief, disarm cops By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- A village chief was waylaid by communist rebels in Baguio District while village policemen in Panabo City were disarmed in separate operations over the weekend.
Barangay Carmen village chairman Crisologo Cresencio, 60 and his companion - 40-year-old Hermes Tar - were traversing Puentespina Flower Farm in Purol 8 when ambushed by members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) Sunday noon.
Cresencio was hit in his left arm but managed to run for safety and seek assistance. Tar, however, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died.
Barangay Fatima chief Custodio Varona was also killed by communist rebels in the public market last month. Military authorities said Varona was killed for being a known supporter of the anti-communist drive in his village.
In a related development, about 50 NPA rebels swoop down on village policemen detailed at the Barangay Malativas outpost in Panabo City, Saturday evening.
The armed men, showing their military insignia, claimed to be members of Task Force Davao.
The rebels reportedly demanded food from the policemen and later asked for their firearms. They surrendered four rifles without any resistance.
The rebels also gathered residents in the area and conducted a briefing and recruitment.
The rebels, some of them women, later left the barangay without harming anyone.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the NPA's not to harm the barangay chairmen, as they are part of the City Government.
The mayor at the same time requested the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to recruit village chiefs as members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). (with RCO/Sunnex)
