NPAs hold Davao mayor sans permit

DAVAO CITY – A band of New People’s Army rebels took hostage Wednesday the incumbent town mayor of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur and several other members of his political party while campaigning in Barangay Malabang for reportedly failing to secure a ‘permit to campaign’ from the communist guerrillas operating in the area.

The rebels, however, immediately released Mayor Jose Superales an hour after he and his companies were taken at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Communist guerrillas in this part of the country have been requiring local candidates to first secure a permit to campaign before they are allowed to go out especially to areas considered to be their lair. – Edith Regalado