DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Members of the New People’s Army in the hinterlands of Sitio Guinobatan, Paquibato district seized Thursday afternoon the vehicle used by the staff of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is running for city mayor in the May 10 elections.
Simon Santiago, spokesman and political officer of the NPA southern Mindanao command, told reporters that they had seized the vehicle of Nograles while it was on a campaign mission in Paquibato district.
He said that they had burned all the official’s campaign materials and freed two of Nograles’ staff unharmed.
Santiago said they recovered from Nograles’ vehicle several pieces of toothpaste and toothbrush that were marked with the congressman’s name.
Meanwhile, a soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a blast staged by leftist rebels late Friday in an effort to block government troops who were dispatched to locate the vehicle of Nograles at the vicinity of Barangays Paradise Embac and Paquibato proper.
Col. Cesar De Mesa, commander of the Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion, confirmed that one of his men was killed and three others were wounded in the blast.
Nograles on the other hand, condemned the brazen harassment by the NPAs against his team’s campaign supporters as he blamed Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for allowing armed insurgents to flourish in Davao City.
Nograles is running against Duterte’s daughter and vice mayor Sara while the mayor has swapped places with her and is running for vice mayor himself.
The incident reportedly took place at around 3 p.m. Friday as the soldiers, on board a military transport vehicle, were on their way to Barangay Paquibato to recover Nograles’ vehicle.
Nograles said he does not understand why the NPAs still thrive in Davao City in spite of the huge peace and order fund that is at the disposal of the city government.
“This is a confirmation of our reports that Duterte’s Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod has allied itself with the NPAs. The Comelec should take this incident very seriously and consider our recommendation that the city should be placed under Comelec control,” Nograles said.
He also called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines not to let this incident go unpunished.