Reds continue romp around CL

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac — Elements of the New People's Army continued to romp around Central Luzon as some 25 rebels hijacked three dump trucks and held hostage four civilians in Barangay Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac last Sunday afternoon, the military said.

The rebels also attacked the police outpost in the same barangay, firing indiscriminately at the detachment and leaving a civilian wounded, the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) reported yesterday.

Nolcom spokesman Lt. Col. Preme Monta said policemen, identified as SPO1 Abraham Paraji and PO3 Jose Paguio, tried to resist the attack but were eventually overpowered by the rebels.

He said the rebels looted the detachment and carted away the personal belongings of policemen, including one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, a cal. 38 revolver and a 9 mm pistol.

Nolcom chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez ordered 703rd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Silverio Ilagan to pursue the rebels but there were no contacts yet as of presstime. — James Mananghaya, Artemio Dumlao and Benjie Villa