Reds face raps over Cagayan councilor’s slay

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan, Philippines — Police filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice on Tuesday against 16 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in connection with the killing of a councilor in Allacapan, Cagayan on May 24.

Chief Superintendent Mario Espino, Cagayan Valley police director, said the communist guerrillas, who are members of the Danilo Ben Command, admitted killing Zaldy Mallari in Barangay Labben.

Police said Cristina Garcia, alias Ka Senyang, and Lolito Rasa, who were among those charged, led the attack on a police station in Allapacan in 2013, which left eight police officers dead, and the killing of a soldier in an ambush in Rizal, Cagayan last year.