NPA fielding slate for 2016 polls in North Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The killing of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl in Butuan City last week is part of a grand plan of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA) to establish a shadow government in the province, sources in the intelligence community said yesterday.

Military and police sources said the NPA is fielding a complete slate in various elective posts in Northern Mindanao provinces in the May 2016 elections to be able to have total control of business and politics in the region.

“As part of the plan, the NPAs are also fielding liquidation squads that are directed to eliminate those opposed to their election plan,” bared a military officer whose unit is operating against the insurgents in Northern Mindanao.

The source said that last January, the NPA was able to convince a businesswoman to seek the mayoralty post in Butuan City, known as a recreation area of insurgents.

The source said that through Otaza’s killing, the NPA was able to deliver a clear message to those who stand in its way.

A former NPA commander, Otaza had been actively helping the government foil a plan of the rebel group to put up a shadow government in his municipality and in Manobo villages in nearby towns.

The NPA on Sunday claimed responsibility for the killing of Otaza and his son.

NPA spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez accused Otaza of masterminding the killings and torture of lumads as well as other residents in his town.

Intel report ignored

Meanwhile, a source told The STAR yesterday that the local police in Agusan del Sur received intelligence information about the NPA plan to snatch Otaza three months before his actual kidnapping.

The police officials, however, ignored the report, the source said, adding that alleged plan was very specific.

“Even after Mayor Otaza was abducted, police action was not sufficient,” the source said. “The killers did not go far so how come they were not arrested?”

The source said an audit team from Camp Crame learned about the lapses of the policemen before, during and after the kidnapping and made recommendations to relieve some officials who failed to act accordingly. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe