Rebels abduct Compostela cop

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Suspected communist guerrillas abducted a police sergeant in a remote town of Compostela Valley Thursday night, authorities said.

Reports reaching the Northern Mindanao police command said SPO1 Hermogenes Lam-oc was snatched from his house in Barangay Kingking in Maco town at about 7 p.m.

"We are still trying to establish the motive for his abduction," said SPO3 Sam Balicoco.

Maco policemen and elements of the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion are conducting a joint pursuit to rescue Lam-oc from his captors.

In another development, two New People’s Army rebels, who were responsible for the abduction-killing of four militiamen last Dec. 26, were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Sorsogon City.

The two rebels, identified as Reynaldo Ervas and Raymundo Diaz, both belonging to the NPA’s Alonso Buenaobra Command, were slain in a five-minute firefight in Bacon district, according to Lt. Col. Romeo Cabatic, commanding officer of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion. – Roel Pareño, Celso Amo