MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Two Philippine police officers kidnapped and held by communist rebels escaped after seizing a rifle and shooting their guards, the national police spokesman said Friday. One of the officers was safe and the other missing.

New People’s Army rebels seized officers Allan Munez and Nemuel Espana on Sunday as the two were returning to a police station in Loreto township in southern Agusan del Sur province after investigating an incident in a nearby village.