Rebels seize mayoralty candidate in Davao Oriental

From GMA News (May 2): Rebels seize mayoralty candidate in Davao Oriental

A mayoralty candidate in Baganga, Davao Oriental, has been abducted by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels after he allegedly failed to pay permit-to-campaign fees.

Police provincial director Senior Superintendent Jose Carumba identified the victim as Ronnie Osnan, an independent candidate, who was abducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday after a campaign sortie in Barangay Kampawan, Baganga.

The communist rebels also abducted a pastor named Manny Tizon but released him later, according to Carumba.

"Right now itong si pastor [na] na-release [ay] volunteering to negotiate kung ano talaga para ma-release [si Osnan]," Carumba said Thursday.

Tizon reportedly told authorities that Osnan was seized after he failed to pay permit-to-campaign fees to the rebels. The military estimates such fees range from P50,000 to P5 million, particularly in the Visayas region.

Waging Asia's longest communist insurgency, the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), collects money from candidates before allowing them to campaign in rebel strongholds.

Osnan was not the first candidate abducted by the NPA during the campaign period. The security escort of governor Arturo Uy was abducted by the rebels late Sunday afternoon. The rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying the local government failed to follow the no-firearms policy within "revolutionary territories."

The NPA has reminded candidates to "secure permission and coordinate with our local forces when entering our area, and they should also not have armed escorts."

The rebels also attacked the convoy of Gingoog Mayor Ruthie de Lara-Guingona, the mother of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III and wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., last April 20. She survived the attack, but her driver and bodyguard were killed.

President Benigno Aquino III has already ordered government security forces to conduct operations against communist rebels and dismantle their checkpoints in light of increased NPA activities days leading to the May 13 elections.

The military, on the other hand, is urging voters not to support candidates who give in to the rebels' extortion demands.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306509/news/regions/rebels-seize-mayoralty-candidate-in-davao-oriental