Suspected rebels torch govt vehicles in Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY— Armed men believed to be members of the New Peoples Army’s Committee Front 53 torched two government vehicles owned by the municipality of Magpet in North Cotabato Wednesday afternoon, the towns’ chief of police said Thursday. Inspector Luis Pederio said the Isuzu trooper and Hilux pickup were set on fire by at least 12 communist rebels supposedly led by Kumander Ponyong, shortly before 3 p.m. at Sitio Lakuakon in Barangay (village) Basak. Magpet Vice Mayor Florentino Villasor, six councilors, three civilians, and a protestant pastor were on the vehicles heading for Barangay Poblacion when they were flagged down by armed men. The leader of the armed men ordered the vice mayor’s group to vacate the vehicles before dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire. Pederio said that the armed men demanded Permit to Win (PTW) from the group of Villasor as an entry pass to Barangay Basac, known as lair of communist rebels in the area. The PTW is supposedly issued by communist rebels to local candidates for the May polls who are willing to pay a price for a sure victory. But the Communist Party of the Philippines has been denying that they issue such permit. [See: AFP, CPP in word war over 'extortion' of candidates] According to Pederio, the Isuzu trooper cost P600, 000 while the Hilux pick up was pegged at P500, 000. He said that other areas where the presence of communist rebels was being monitored the Barangays (villages) of Amabel, Basak, Noa, Binay, Bagumbayan and Don Panaca. In 2005, suspected communist rebels numbering to 40 stormed the police headquarter in Magpet carting away several firearms and ammunition. — Williamor A. Magbanua/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV