TWO suspected members of the New People’s Army Special Partisan Unit (NPA-Sparu) who were allegedly collecting “revolutionary tax” in Tongan-Tongan, Valencia City were wounded and arrested after a brief encounter with the police.
Police identified the suspects as Frederic Tagurda and Pedeng Matiknon, both NPA Sparu members under the Guerrilla Front 6-North Central Mindanao Regional Command.
Valencia City Police Office chief Surki Sereñas said an informant reported that four armed rebels riding two motorcycles were sighted in the village.
“They admitted after the arrest that they are in the area para ‘mangolikta ug buwis’ (to collect tax),” Lieutenant Colonel Sereñas said.
Sereñas said both are Sparu and revolutionary tax collectors of the NPA.
The alleged rebels fired upon the responding police and military which resulted in a shootout.
The two retreated in a nearby rice mill where they were cornered by authorities.
Recovered from the suspects were two caliber .45 pistol, 13 rounds of cal. 45 ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, 4 aluminum blasting caps, a motorcycle, subversive documents, medicines, and other personal things.
The suspects are currently detained in Valencia City Police Office.