Philippine rebels kill 37 in attack on church

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 10

Philippine rebels kill 37 in attack on church

NZPA-Reuter Manila Communist rebels beheaded a Protestant minister and killed 36 worshippers in an attack on a crowded church in the southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.

About 100 guerrillas took part in Sunday’s attack on the church in the mountain village of Rano in Davao del Sur province, 940 km south-east of Manila, a provincial commander of the paramilitary constabulary said. “People scampered away and hid in nearby houses but the rebels

chased them and shot them,” Lieutenant-Colonel Jose Maneja said in a telephone interview. Colonel Maneja said the casualties included women and children. The rebels attacked the church when 40 people were inside attending a service, he said. Eight people were injured. The rebels said they were looking for the minister’s brother who was the leader of a local anticommunist vigilante group.

“The firing lasted for about 15 minutes and local vigilantes, armed with bolos (machetes) and

shotguns, fought back,” Colonel Maneja said. “Villagers said they saw the rebels carrying off their wounded.” He said the rebels beheaded the pastor, Abdi Ayap. His brother was also killed. The rebels set fire to the church Bible and looted the village before fleeing on foot and horseback, he said.

“The villagers told us they believed their village was attacked because they had formed a vigilante force and had stopped giving the rebels rice and money,” Colonel Maneja said.