Watchmen, peasants repel bandits collecting 'revolutionary tax'

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Community watchmen and armed peasants prevented on late Wednesday an attempt by bandits to intrude into an isolated barangay in Kabacan town to collect revolutionary tax from villagers.

The gang, led by Commander Gafur and Abdilla Matitik, scampered away after failing to breach through the defense perimeters around Barangay Pedtad, which they attacked from different directions.

Superintendent Jordine Maribojo, chief of the Kabacan municipal police, said villagers, led by barangay chair Romeo Mantawil, engaged the bandits, armed with assault rifles and shoulder-fire grenade launchers, in a 20-minute running firefight, preventing them from closing in.  

Barangay officials said the marauding gunmen have been trying to get through agricultural enclaves in Barangay Pedtad to collect “protection money” from residents.

The attack was their third in the past six months, according to community leaders.

Mantawil said no one from his constituent-villagers who fused ranks together and helped drive the armed men away was hurt in the encounter.