NPA frees Davao mayoral bet

MANILA, Philippines - A Davao Oriental mayoral bet who was kidnapped by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last Sunday has been released by his captors, the military said yesterday.

In a text message, Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said the rebels freed Arfran Quinones, who is running for mayor of Lupon town, and a supporter after a crisis committee led by Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon negotiated their release.

It was not clear whether the crisis committee paid ransom to the NPA. Cabangbang said they were not privy to the terms agreed upon by the rebels and the local officials.

Cabangbang said Quinones and his supporter were released at around 8:30 p.m. Monday. He said they received unconfirmed reports that two high-powered firearms were lost to the rebels.

Cabangbang said their troops are already running after the abductors of Quinones.

“The problem is we have been telling candidates that they can request for area security from us. Some of them are not requesting for it… They (Quinones’ camp) did not make such a request,” he said.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Division said Quinones was with eight of his supporters when some 30 guerrillas held them at gunpoint.

Seven of Quinones’ supporters were immediately freed, but the mayoral bet and a former barangay councilman, a certain Ronisito Pedro, were held captive.

The military said the kidnapping may have been motivated by Quinones’ failure to pay extortion money to the NPA.