Suspected NPA rebels raid ex-mayor’s house in Surigao City

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided the house of former Placer, Surigao del Norte mayor Charry Mangacop in Surigao City and briefly held him and his wife on Wednesday evening, authorities said Thursday.

Chief Supt Reynaldo Rafal, Caraga police director, said at least 10 heavily armed rebels, wearing military uniforms, swooped down on Mangacop’s house in Barangay Bonifacio, Surigao City around 7 p.m.

The rebels held the mayor and his wife at gunpoint, Rafal said.

He said the rebels then ushered Mangacop into his living room and seized personal belongings including cell phones, undetermined cash, jewelry and several firearms including two Armalite rifles.

“The rebels held Mangacop and his family but fortunately they were not harmed. Only the firearms and personal belongings were seized,” Rafal told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He said before retreating, the rebels doused two dump trucks, a backhoe, a payloader and mini-truck parked inside the Mangacop compound and set these afire.

Mangacop later told a local radio station that he would not want to speculate on the identity of the attackers.

But Rafal said the police were certain they were NPA rebels because the manner the attack was carried out against the former mayor, known for having mining investments in nearby Surigao del Sur province, “bore the trademark of the revolutionary movement.”

He said Mangacop’s refusal to give revolutionary tax to the NPA had motivated the attack.

“Investigations proved that the NPA carried out the attack for extortion, the rebels are sending message to businessmen and potential investors in Surigao areas,” he said.