Governor denies paying NPA rebels for ‘permit to campaign’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy yesterday denied allegations of paying the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels for a “permit to campaign.”

Uy stressed he refused to pay for any permit from the NPA to campaign freely since he is running unopposed.

Uy, however, said his refusal to pay the NPA for the permit could be the reason why Senior Police Officer 1 Alan Pansoy was snatched by the rebels.

He said he feels responsible for the kidnapping of Pansoy.

On Sunday, NPA rebels dressed as soldiers on a road checkpoint flagged down Uy and his eight-vehicle convoy in a remote village in Maco town and seized Pansoy.

Uy said the NPA rebels did not even mention anything about a permit to campaign.