NORTH COTABATO , Philippines – Communist rebels occupied an upland barangay in Antipas, North Cotabato yesterday, displacing hundreds of residents and disrupting classes.
Antipas Mayor Egidio Cadungon, chairman of the municipal peace and order council, said New People’s Army guerrillas stormed Barangay Camutan at around 6 a.m., looted houses, robbed residents and took farm animals.
Police and military operatives are validating reports that the rebels seized around 70 villagers.
Cadungon said the attack caused panic among residents in neighboring barangays.