NPA rebels raid town hall in Surigao del Sur

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Communist rebels clad in police uniforms stormed the town hall of Lianga in Surigao del Sur on Thursday and carted away high-powered firearms—including an Ak-47 assault rifle, the military said.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the New People’s Army guerrillas arrived around 8:40 a.m. in a van and immediately took over the town hall.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman of the Philippine National Police, said that around 12 rebels staged the 10-minute raid.

The NPA guerrillas fled towards Barangay Diatagon, taking with them one AK47 riffle, one shotgun, one caliber .38 revolver, and a 9-milimeter pistol, Cruz said.

Meanwhile, Police Inspector Vitaliano Pederan, Lianga chief of police, said that all detainees were unharmed.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, Galon said.