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Troops capture NPA medic in rescue ops for Surigao Sur mayor


Government troops have captured a female medic of the New People’s Army (NPA) in an encounter with rebels who allegedly abducted a Surigao del Sur town mayor, the regional police office reported Sunday. In its 7th progress report on the abduction of Lingig town Mayor Henry Dano, Police Regional Office 13 (CARAGA) identified the captured medic as Lyka Navarro. Navarro was captured by soldiers of the 67th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Abejod, Cateel, Davao Oriental Thursday morning, said the belated report. The rescue operation for the mayor resulted in four injuries on the side of government forces and an undetermined number of casualties on the side of the rebels, the police report added. Also, the report said soldiers recovered five M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, four M4 rifles, two M653 Baby Armalite rifles, one Carbine, one M203, three handheld Kenwood radios, assorted medicines, food supplies, “subversive" documents, and personal belongings. “Continuous coordination is made with Dano's family and the Critical Incident Management Task Group for any information and the appropriate course of action to be implemented for the safe recovery of Mayor Dano and the two Army personnel," regional police office said. Suspected NPA members abducted Dano and two military escorts Saturday last week. Last Monday, a police official said Dano might have been abducted because of his refusal to give in to a certain demand by communist rebels during the 2010 elections. — Paterno Esmacquel II, with Ben Serrano/LBG, GMA News

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