TAGUM CITY – Heavily-armed men believed to be New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked the provincial jail of Davao Oriental shortly before noon on Monday, seizing a still undetermined number of firearms, police and civilian officials said.

No casualties were reported.

About 70 attackers wearing military uniforms stormed the Davao Oriental Provincial Rehabilitation Center in Barangay Sainz in the capital city of Mati at around 11 a.m., according to Juvy Tanio, a staff member of the city information office.

They were on board a tarpaulin-covered forward truck, which barged into the facility’s main gate and overpowered the guard, said Senior Insp. Candido Suralta, city police chief.

“No shots were fired, no prisoners were taken. They simply overwhelmed the guards and started disarming jail personnel inside the compound,” Suralta told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

“The guards were really caught by surprise. They were not able to put up a fight,” he added.

Suralta said the rebels took six rifles and five pistols before fleeing toward Lupon town.

The raid lasted for about 30 minutes, he said.

The police officer immediately dispatched his men, along with Army soldiers, to pursue the rebels.

NPA rebels have stepped up attacks in the province, even as military officials ordered intensified operations against them last month.