NPA admits they abducted ComVal gov's police escort at 'checkpoint'

From GMA News (May 1): NPA admits they abducted ComVal gov's police escort at 'checkpoint'

The outlawed New People’s Army has claimed responsibility for the abduction of a police escort of Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy late Sunday afternoon.

In a statement, Ka Daniel Ibarra, spokesperson for the NPA's ComVal-Davao Gulf sub-regional command, said: "Compostella Valley re-electionist Gov. Arturo Uy failed to coordinate and cooperate with the New People's Army and organs of the People's Democratic Government in the strict adherence with the no-firearms policy within the revolutionalry territories."

The abducted cop is Senior Police Officer 1 Allan Pansoy, who was tasked to accompany the governor and six other board members to a political rally in Barangay Anitapan in Mabini town, Compostela Valley province.

The abduction at an NPA checkpoint comes barely a week after the wounding of 78-year-old Gingoog Mayor Ruth Guingona and the killings of two of her bodyguards at another NPA checkpoint in Misamis Oriental, also in Mindanao.

Guingona too was accused by the NPA of not coordinating her movements with the NPA.

In a separate interview, Governor Uy appealed to rebels to release SPO1 Pansoy.

“Sana 'yong police na kinuha nila, si SPO1 Allan Pansoy, 'di naman 'yon sumama sa amin dahil may operation against them, merely nirequest ko lang 'yon kay PD Cascolan, sana i-release na nila kasi kawawa ang pamilya,” Uy said.

In addition to Pansoy’s abduction, the NPA rebels also confiscated two Armalite rifles, a short firearm, and a handheld radio from the group.

For his part, Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, Compostela police chief told GMA News Online that SPO1 Pansoy’s recovery remains a priority for the ComVal police.

“Up to now continuous ang operations, both covert and by men in uniform. Of course in close coordination with the Army 71st Infantry Battalion,” Casoclan said in a phone interview.

Cascolan added that independent of the police’ efforts, Governor Uy has also tried to contact the rebels to facilitate the release of Pansoy.

“May mga negotiation going on, including the governor, Governor Uy who has actually acted on his own to contact the rebels,” he said.

According to Casoclan, no demands have been made by the NPA for Pansoy’s release.

“There have been no demands so far, none that I know of,” he said.

Authorities also remain hopeful that the rebels have not transported Pansoy away from the area.

“We’re very optimistic, they’re just within the area, and we’re patrolling on a daily basis,” he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306324/news/regions/npa-admits-they-abducted-comval-gov-s-police-escort-at-checkpoint