Police: Rebels not behind mining site attack in Agusan

BUTUAN CITY — The armed men that attack a security outpost of a mining firm in Rosario town in Agusan Sur on the evening of November 1 were not members of the New People's Army, a police report said Thursday. Citing a report reaching his office, Caraga Police Regional Information Office head P/Supt. Martin Gamba said police operatives claimed watchmen from the VPO Mining Company were the ones who fired the M203 grenade launcher at the security outpost of the Bulawanon Mining Exploration, which is located just 60 meters away. Last Tuesday's attack that hurt three security guards of the Earth Savers security agency happened at the Ridge Mountain of Purok 11, Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario town. The police identified the security-guard suspects as Alex Macabenta, 22; Ysmael Abubakar, 25; and Inok Abubakar, 27 – all residents of Tambongaon, Pantukan, Compostela Valley. The three are now subjects of manhunt operations, the report added. Also, the police report identified two of the wounded security guards as Fermin limpot and Ronieto Lopez. The two have been discharged from the hospital, while a third victim, a certain Roger Agorto, was scheduled to be transferred to a Butuan City Hospital for further treatment. — Ben Serrano /LBG, GMA News