NPA raid in Cebu town aimed to punish mayor?

CEBU CITY - The rebel attack that shattered the peace in Sogod the other day was meant to punish Mayor Thaddeus Durano for his grave "sins" against the people.

Members of the Vicente Padayao Command of the New People's Army left behind a letter containing a litany of atrocities, from landgrabbing to murder, allegedly committed by Durano.

Durano was judged by the revolutionary tribunal as a criminal, fascist and corrupt public official who, it said, "deserved to be punished."

The rebels also tagged Durano as among those who allegedly plotted the abduction of Fr. Rudy Romano in 1985. The priest remains missing.

Durano, according to the rebels, stands as a remnant of the Marcos dictatorship and continues to use his power to steal from the town's coffers.

During the Marcos years, the group claimed Durano was responsible for the "salvaging" of farmers and workers in the northern towns.

Recently, they said, Durano pocketed P3 million in public funds set aside for the 2000 budget.

The one-page, computerized explanation of the raid was marked with a seal of the Bagong Hukbong Bayan.

Durano, however, belied all accusations and said he is willing to answer them all in any investigation.

The mayor said all transactions in the municipality go through the scrutiny of the Commission on Audit.

Although he was cited by COA for disallowances, Durano said he would liquidate the amounts involved.-