Davao Oriental mayoral bet denies NPA abduction incident

From GMA News (May 4): Davao Oriental mayoral bet denies NPA abduction incident

There was no abduction. What happened was a friendly invitation.

This was how Davao Oriental's Bangaga town mayoralty candidate Ronnie Osnan described the incident that took place on Wednesday afternoon after alleged members of the communist insurgents New People’s Army purportedly seized him following a campaign sortie in Barangay Kampawan.

“Wala namang kidnap na nangyari saka purely friendly invitation lang na makipag-usap. Hindi naman harassment o whatever,” Osnan was quoted as saying in a television report aired at GMA’s “Saksi” on Friday.

Osnan’s companion pastor Manuel Tizon agreed with the independent candidate’s claim saying: “Na-invite lang kami para makipagkilala sa kanya. Pinuntahan namin yung bahay [tapos] nag-shake hands.”

After a five-hour hike, the rebels released Tizon leaving Osnan behind. The businessman was subsequently released the folowing day (Thursday).

However, the police was unconvinced the incident was a mere invitation saying the armed men were most likely wringing permit-to-campaign fees to the mayoralty bet, the television report said.

“But for us in the PNP there is no such thing as a permit to campaign policy, tawag namin dyan extortion activity talaga,” said Police Senior Superintendent Jose Carumba, Davao Oriental provincial director.

The police reminded local candidates to collaborate with authorities in connection with rebel’s extortion activities.

Meanwhile, Osman's rival mayoralty bet tagged the incident as a "kidnap me" propaganda, the report said

“Tingin ko, 75 percent to 80 percent, hindi ‘yan pagdukot. Kasi kung malinaw ‘yan na pagdukot, sa mga ganitong lugar na medyo malayu-layo, siguro mga two to three days bago makalabas,” said mayoral candidate and incumbent Bangaga vice mayor Arturo Monday.

Earlier, NPA abducted the security escort of Compostela Valley governor Arturo Uy last May 1 for failing to follow the no-firearms policy within “revolutionary territories.”

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306850/news/regions/davao-oriental-mayoral-bet-denies-npa-abduction-incident