Village chief escapes kidnap try; militiaman slain

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines- The chairman of a barangay in Trento, Agusan del Sur foiled an attempt by suspected New People’s Army rebels to kidnap him on Wednesday.

However, the rebels shot dead Napoleon Cortez of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit as he drove past the house of Barangay Cuevas chairman Raul Granada. Granada was able to escape.

 “Cortez tried to escape but it was too late. He died at the scene,” Senior Inspector Alex Celiz, Trento police chief, said.

Initial investigation showed that around 60 rebels in two Starex vans arrived at the house of Granada and surrounded it.