Mayor's NPA captors demand end to military operations

Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Butuan City ,Philippines  – New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who kidnapped the mayor of Lingig, Surigao del Sur have expressed their willingness to negotiate if military operations against them will be stopped.

 “Although they did not specifically tell us when are we going start negotiations, the NPA leaders wanted a stop to all military operations,” Inspector Ignacio Serrano Jr., Lingig town’s chief of police, told The STAR.

Serrano did not identify the NPA leaders who contacted him, but said he already relayed the information to his immediate superior – Surigao del Sur police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Julito Diray and the Caraga police regional office here.

Amelia Dano, 51, wife of Lingig Mayor Henry Santos Dano appealed to the kidnappers not to harm and safely release her husband and his two military escorts.

 Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel meanwhile said, they have not established contact with Dano’s abductors, even as he reiterated his appeal for them not to hurt the mayor.

“There is a proper forum for whatever differences Mayor Dano had with the New People’s Army as I already issued appeals since yesterday that please, do not harm Mayor Dano and his two military escorts please,” Pimentel said.

In Davao City, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he will talk with the NPA leadership for the release of Dano.

Duterte said he would personally meet with the NPA leaders, even as he called on the national government to also address the concern of communist rebels. He said President Aquino should talk with communist leaders, the same way he did with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Al Haj Murad.