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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/25 April) – New People’s Army rebels carted away 66 assorted firearms in a raid Monday night on a security agency in Butuan City.
In a statement, the NPA’s Front 4A said they seized 46 AK-47 and three M-14 sniper rifles, 10 automatic shotguns and seven pistols from the security agency owned by retired general Paul Nario in Arujville Subdivision, around 8pm on April 23.
The rebels also hauled off several magazines, ammunition and other military gear, the statement added.
Rebel spokesperson Allan Juanito said the rebels posed as members of the National Bureau of Investigation and did not fire a single shot during the 10-minute raid.
The subdivision is a few hundred meters away from the police regional headquarters and the 403rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Barangay Bancasi.
Juanito alleged that the firearms were used in harassing residents of villages in Trento, Agusan del Sur who are opposed to mining operations in the area.
The raid came on the eve of the 39th anniversary of the National Democratic Front, political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The NDF has been holding on-and-off peace talks with the Philippine government since 1986. (MindaNews)