Armed men attack town in northern Palawan, steal church bell

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): Armed men attack town in northern Palawan, steal church bell

Mayor Rommel Dela Torre of the municipality of Magsaysay in Palawan reported that on Monday, armed men suspected to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked an island in his jurisdiction and stole the church bell. In an interview with Dela Torre, he said they have since sounded the alarm to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in the Calamianes Group of Islands, where the armed men are expected to go after stealing the church bell on Alcoba island barangay.

Although no resident was hurt, Dela Torre said fear has overwhelmed the residents of the island barangay because the armed men might return.  He narrated that on Monday at around twelve noon, around 10 armed men wearing bonnets and heavy firearms went to Alcoba and stole their historical church bell. “There were past attempts to steal our church bell, but they all failed except on Monday when the armed men came,” he said.

They only discovered it was missing On Tuesday morning.  The town mayor called on police and military authorities in Palawan to help them get back the bell that has been in their church for years and years. He said the history that goes along with it make it a priceless possession of the not only the church but the people of Magsaysay.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=487785