Palace mum on peace implications of Surigao mayor’s abduction

Malacañang kept mum Sunday on the possible implications of the abduction of a Surigao del Sur town mayor by suspected New People’s Army insurgents to the ongoing peace process between government and communist rebels. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace will defer all questions about the abduction of Lingig town mayor Henry Dano to a crisis committee created by the provincial government. “Any questions on this we will defer to the members of the provincial crisis committee. They’re on top of everything. We trust them to do their work," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She said that while the Palace is concerned about the abduction, it can only rely on updates from law enforcement agencies and the crisis committee. Valte also declined to comment on whether the government will interpret the abduction as a sign of "bad faith" by the communist rebels. Meanwhile, Valte said, “At this point we see no indication there is a general breakdown in peace and order in the country... That (abduction) is not a reflection of the general situation," she said. — LBG, GMA News