Rebels disarm security guards in Tugbok

From the Sun Star-Davao (Jan 23): Rebels disarm security guards in Tugbok

SUSPECTED members of the New People's Army (NPA) disarmed three security guards at sitio Banarao in Barangay Talandang in Tugbok District, Davao City.

One of the three victims Marcelino Alfonso Mata, 48, of Columbia Security Agency, who hails from Santiago, Isabela, reported the incident to Tugbok police.

Initial police investigation revealed that the incident happened at around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

According to Mata, they were on duty when around 15 men and a woman, armed with handguns, wearing white t-shirt printed with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) at the back, arrived in the area.

When asked about the concern of the group, the latter then conducted verification on the reported cutting of trees in the area.

The group, however, then suddenly took the issued firearms of the guards.

The 15 men and the woman identified themselves as members of the NPA then boarded to five motorcycles heading towards Barangay Talandang Proper.

Police are already digging into their investigation to determine the motive of the suspects and identified the members of the group.

According to the police, the incident happened in a remote area of the barangay, where there has been an ongoing land conflict.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2016/01/23/rebels-disarm-security-guards-tugbok-453342