Body formed to address abduction of Surigao Sur town mayor

BUTUAN CITY — A Crisis Management Committee was formed after Saturday morning's abduction of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, town Mayor Henry S. Dano and his two military escorts, Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal said. Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel will head the committee with representatives from the military, police, Interior and local government, and private sectors as members. Rafal claimed that before Dano and the two soldiers' abductions, the Lingig police were placed on red alert after intelligence reports had indicated that the town was one of the targets of New People's Army (NPA) attack. The abduction of the mayor was not the first of such crime against a town official in Lingig. Before the May 10 national and local elections, then Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna Jr. was abducted by suspected NPA rebels but was later released. Luna, who is currently the town's vice mayor, was also abducted in 2007. — Ben Serrano/LBG, GMA News