CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 02 May) – Communist insurgents briefly held a town mayor and his group who were campaigning in the southern Philippines, a military report said.
The insurgents held the group of Mayor Reinario Rosales, of Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte province late Tuesday while campaigning at a public square in the village of Mat-i.
About 60 gunmen surrounded the square and held the politicians, allied with President Gloria Arroyo, for almost two hours before releasing them unharmed.
The Philippine News Agency reported Wednesday that aside from the town mayor, the insurgents also held a congressional candidate Angelo Jimenez.
It also quoted a report by Army Major General Jose Barbieto that the insurgents encircled the square and ordered the politicians to stop campaigning.
“Panic gripped the political rally of local candidates under the umbrella of the administration Kampi party when some 60 heavily armed New People's Army rebels told them to stop their rally.”
“The (military) report also alleged the armed men fired warning shots and forced the 'rallyists' to stop their political activities while holding also their vehicles. After more than an hour in captivity, the Kampi candidates were released unharmed. The rebels then fled to the nearby forested and mountainous area of Mat-i,” it said.
Kampi stands for Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Arroyo's own political party.
The military said the NPA has been demanding money to politicians so they can campaign in areas where the rebels are actively operating. It was unknown why the local police failed to protect the politicians. (With a report from Romy Bwaga)
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