SOLDIER KILLED, 3 WOUNDED IN ZAMBO DISCO BAR SHOOTING

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting incident inside a disco bar in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Police identified the slain soldier as Private First Class Gerald Jan Aujero Cordero, 27, a native of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. Wounded were Corporal Seperino Randes Damacino, 26; Cpl. Giovanie Diodor, 27; and a civilian Al Gerald Santos, 36. The soldiers, members of the 53rd Infantry Battalion and assigned to the 102nd Infantry Brigade in Ipil, were shot at dawn on Wednesday inside the Planet Disco near Philippine Army headquarters. Police Officer 2 Romer Anggot, investigator in- charge, did not answer phone calls from journalists who were monitoring a probe of the incident. The brigade headquarters and the 1st Infantry Division and the Western Mindanao Command did not release any information on the shooting incident.

5 NPA REBELS IN BUKIDNON YIELD WITH ‘ SNIPER’ RIFLES

CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City: Five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Bukidnon surrendered on separate occasions in early December and turned over high-powered “sniper” rifles. Supt. Lemuel Gonda, spokesman for the police regional command, said the latest to yield were two NPA rebels from Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, identified as Arnel Salahag Diwangan and Mablet Timbangan, both members of the Omayamnon tribe. The two turned over a 12- gauge shotgun each with sling magazines. Earlier, three other rebels identified as Marlon Talisik, Rodolfo Talisik Jr. and Bebert Damasco Jr., all of Casisang, Bukidnon, surrendered last week with a Mine Barret IG Sniper, M14 Sniper Rifle with telescope and improvised silencer and caliber 30 Carbine rifle. Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb, police regional director in Northern Mindanao, formally welcomed back the rebel returnees at a recent media presentation. They all belong to indigenous tribes in Bukidnon who told authorities that they surrendered after being demoralized by extreme hardships and false promises within the revolutionary movement. Pacleb said the government would extend various comprehensive livelihood programs to the former NPA rebels with the assistance of government line agencies.