Reds release Surigao Sur village chief

BAROBO, Surigao del Sur – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels released on Thursday afternoon a village chieftain the outlawed group seized on March 13, local police said. Police identified the victim as Elisea Gay-od of Rajah Cabungsuan village, Lingig, Surigao del Sur, who was released at 4:30 p.m. near the boundary of Sta. Maria village in Trento town, Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley province. Gay-od was seized Tuesday afternoon near the barangay hall by fully armed men believed to be communist insurgents. Gay-od’s release, however, came with a warning: that the lady village chief must temporarily get out of her village and refrain from campaigning for Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna, and that the Cafgu detachment manned by elements of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in the Rajah Cabungsuan village be dismantled within a month. The village is located in the hinterlands, about 40 kilometers away from the Lingig town proper. Gay-od’s son, Bembem, had reportedly said that her mother agreed to the rebel’s condition of not campaigning for Luna, who was himself seized by communist rebels early last year. At the time, the rebels disguised themselves as government soldiers, held Luna at gunpoint and ransacked the municipal police station of its firearms and ammunition. The rebels had accused Luna of being involved in illegal logging and gambling operations in the region. Luna has since denied the rebel accusations. - Alvin Guanzon, GMANews.TV