3 cops held by NPA rebels in Compostela Valley

(Updated 2:30 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Three policemen were seized by suspected communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley, a regional military spokesman said Tuesday. In a text message to reporters, Maj. Armand Rico said the three policemen were seized shortly after more or less 40 New People's Army (NPA) rebels burned a dump truck of the Philippine Mining Development Corp at Sitio Onggoyan in Mt. Diwata village in Monkayo town. Rico identified the three policemen as PO3 Rogelio Etrata, PO3 Jerry Realino and PO2 Hector Culaste. In an earlier interview over radio dzBB, Rico said: "Nagawa nilang ma-capture ang tatlong pulis na nasa area na nagse-secure ng mining facility. Yan ang grupong gumagawa ng extortion activities para ma-pressure ang mining companies (They captured the three policemen who were securing the mining area. This is a group that has been engaged in extortion activities). Rico said military forces are engaged in pursuit operations against the NPAs. He said they have not yet received any report of a demand by the NPA. "So far walang demand na hinihingi, tayo naman ay naka-focus sa pursuit operation (So far there has been no demand from them. We are focused on pursuit operations)," he said. - GMANews.TV