NPAs release 4 people seized for non-payment of 'tax' but still hold 1 captive in ComVal

From InterAksyon (May 28): NPAs release 4 people seized for non-payment of 'tax' but still hold 1 captive in ComVal

The New People’s Army in Compostela Valley released Monday night four captives seized earlier for non-payment of 'revolutionary tax' but held on to one other, police said.

The captives were among six lumber dealers the rebels seized in the town of Monkayo Friday for what authorities claimed was their failure to pay the so-called “revolutionary tax.”

Provincial police director Superintendent Camilo Cascolan said the four released from a “mountainous area” were Joel Lingaya, 30; Raymund Gumpan, 21; Beninido Taculayan, 43; and Jason Arata, 21.

“The rebels have still with them 62-year-old Lino Armada, the financier of the group. The four were blindfolded and walked for three hours to the place where they were released,” Cascolan said.

More than two hours after Armada’s group was taken by the rebels, his wife Frecielita was released.

She sought help from local officials to negotiate for the release of her companions.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/62755/npas-release-4-people-seized-for-non-payment-of-tax-but-still-hold-1-captive-in-comval