Gunmen Ambush Mindanao Solon's Chief Aide In Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 8, 2008) – Unidentified gunmen ambushed Wednesday a senior aide of a Filipino solon in a broad daylight attack in the Philippine capital, police said.

Police said Robert Delano, 48, was shot in Quezon City while driving his vehicle and died before reaching the hospital. Delano was the chief of staff of Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel Zamora.

The motive of the attack was unknown, police said, adding, it is still investigating the killing.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles has condemned the killing of Delano. “It is a cowardly act and a clear disregard for human life,” he said.

Nograles also called on the Philippine National Police to immediately bring to justice the killers of Delano. “I am confident that the Philippine National Police and other concerned law enforcement and investigative agencies will immediately serve justice to whom it is due,” he said.

He appealed to citizens who witnessed the attack to come forward and help authorities in solving the murder. “Each of us has a responsibility to society. We must bind together to put a stop to criminality that has victimized countless citizens due to the total disregard of the law and to human dignity by a few,” he said.

"It is urgent now, more than ever, to enhance the surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities of our law enforcement agencies because criminals respect nothing and no one," he added. (With a report from Romy Bwaga)

Rebels Free 3 Hostages In Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 6, 2008) – Communist rebels freed two policemen they abducted in the southern Philippines after their families appealed for their safe release, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the New People’s Army released the two policemen in Compostela Valley province in Mindanao. A third hostage, Habilio Delos Reyes, a civilian who had been mistaken as a police officer, was also freed unharmed by the rebels.

The three were freed to government officials in the town of Monkayo led by Vice Mayor Avelino Cabag and Rep. Manuel Zamora. Cabag said the freed hostages were being debriefed and appeared to be in good health.

The NPA seized the police officers at a rebel checkpoint in the village of Ongoyon in Mount Diwata. Authorities earlier identified the abducted officers as Jerry Realino and Hector Colaste.

Another policeman, Rogelio Etrata, who was also taken hostage, had been recovered earlier by security forces pursuing the rebels.

The three officers were assigned to guard the village where several gold mining firms are operating. Insurgents had in the past launch attacks on mining companies in the province. In July, insurgents raided a field office of the Philco Mining Corporation in the village of Camanlangan in New Bataan town also in Compostela Valley.

The NPA is the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, which broke off peace talks with the Arroyo government in 2004 after accusing Manila of reneging on a deal that would have freed hundreds of political detainees in the country. (Romy Bwaga)