Monday, April 29, 2013

NPAs abduct governor's police escort in Compostela Valley town

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 29): NPAs abduct governor's police escort in Compostela Valley town

New People's Army (NPA) rebels abducted a policeman escorting the convoy of Governor Arturo Uy in a hinterland barangay of Mabini municipality, this province, on Sunday afternoon.

The rebels flagged the eight-vehicle convoy bearing Governor Uy, partymates and supporters, at a rebel checkpoint at the boundary of Maco and Mabini municipalities around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

After 45 minutes, the 40-man rebel group later let go of the governor and his party but fled with SPO1 Allan Pansoy.

Gov. Uy said he was on his way down to the capital town of Nabunturan from a campaign rally in the hinterland Barangay Lantapan in Mabini when his convoy was stopped by the rebels who inspected their vehicles apparently for guns.

With Uy were his candidates for the Provincial Board.

"When the rebels found nothing, they asked that my companions show their Identification Cards (IDs)," the governor said.

The rebels said they had to keep Pansoy after the policeman showed his police ID, said Uy when interviewed Monday morning in a local radio station here.

Compostela Valley Police regional director Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan said pursuit operation has been launched to recover Pansoy.

Uy said the rebels were in camouflaged military uniforms. He said he begged the rebels not to bring Pansoy but was refused. They were allowed to go after 45 minutes at the rebel checkpoint.

Pansoy was in civilian uniform and unarmed at the time.He added Pansoy was his regular escort in campaign sorties.

Uy, whose reelection is unopposed, said the experience would not deter him from making sorties in rebel-influenced areas.

"I have partymates who have opponents," he said.

The province shares boundaries with Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental where the leftist National Democratic Front (NDF), according to military, operates about a dozen armed rebel fronts.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=520828

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