Injured	Killed
3	0

Date: 01 May 2010
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=571472

Leftist rebels attack home of mayor in Surigao, 3 hurt
(philstar.com) Updated May 01, 2010 08:00 PM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) – Suspected leftist rebels attacked the residence of a town mayor in southern Philippines early today, triggering an hour-long clash that wounded three people, the military said.

Lt. Col. Michel Anayron, a regional army spokesperson, said some 30 gunmen believed members of the New People’s Army swooped down on the house of Mayor Teodoro Sinaca of Malimono town, in Mindanao’s Surigao del Norte province at 1 a.m.

The assailants fired automatic weapons to the compound of Sinaca, but the official’s armed guards fought back, forcing the rebels to withdraw.

Three of the mayor’s security personnel were slightly wounded, Anayron told Xinhua by phone.

He said the official was unharmed.

“Personnel from the Malimono police station responded to the incident to reinforce the embattled guards but the rebels were quick to flee,” Anayron said.

The military official said police and army commandos are currently conducting operation to track down the rebels.

Anayron said authorities are still investigating if the attack on the mayor has something to do with the rebels’ harassment on politicians and candidates who allegedly refuse to pay campaign fees to the NPA.

The military said Sinaca is running for reelection in next week ‘s elections.

The 5, 000-strong NPA is fighting a 40-year insurgency against the Philippine government and is active in 60 of the country’s 80 provinces.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military to crush the group before she steps down from office this June. The United States tagged the group as an international terrorist organization.