NPA rebel held for extortion

KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines — A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a mayoral candidate in this town on Friday.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Toyang Sikel Sanong was apprehended after he received P20,000 from an emissary of mayoral bet Ronan Eugene Garcia in an entrapment conducted by personnel of the 37th Infantry Battalion and Kalamansig police in a cemetery in Barangay Pag-Asa.

Probers said Kas Cielo dela Vega, an official of the NPA’s Daguma Operations Command- Far South Mindanao Region, demanded the payment of the so-called “protection money.”

Sanong reportedly confessed that he collected money from farmers and owners of establishments and public transportation on a monthly basis.

Meanwhile, two NPA commanders identified only as Bakilo and Ranger and six of their men surrendered in Lebak town, also in this province.

Uy said the two turned over rifles, two caliber .45 pistols and a fragmentation grenade.