PNP probes 'NPA search' in village chief’s house

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 9): PNP probes 'NPA search' in village chief’s house

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental is digging deeper into reports that suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) had searched the residence of the village chief of Barangay Pansiao last month.

Sr. Inspector Van Joel Tingson, Manjuyod police chief, disclosed that while the town is generally peaceful with no high profile cases, sightings of armed individuals are keeping the police on their toes.

He said last February 16, armed men entered the barangay hall of Pansiao while the session was going on, snatched the village chief, brought him to his house and was shown what was supposed to be a search warrant purportedly issued by the rebel group.

During the search, the armed men recovered one 12-gauge shotgun and a cal. 357 revolver with ammunition.

According to the chief of police, the barangay chairman identified only as Mario, had earlier informed the police station he recovered the said firearms from a father and a son following a settlement and was expected to turn over the same to the authorities in due time.

However, the armed group pre-empted the plan of the punong barangay, searched his house and took the said firearms, Tingson reported.

The police in Manjuyod is also validating reports of suspected rebel sightings, intimidation and harassments of residents in the barangays of Namugong, Bantolinao, and Candabong as well as alleged recruitment of minors to join the rebel movement.

In Tayasan, the chief of police, Sr. Insp. Fortunato Villafuerte has confirmed sightings of suspected rebel elements in the barangays of Bago, Saying, and Hinabangan although these are not much of a problem because of the presence of three army detachments in Lag-it, Pindahan, and Tanlad.

For his part, Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enardecido is worried of repercussions in the event of a rebel attack on the police station, as he urged residents to be on the lookout for suspicious looking individuals in the poblacion.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1028150