Local execs want military detachment in Lingig town in Surigao Sur

LINGIG, Surigao del Sur — Claiming that majority of the town's barangays leading to Davao and Compostela Valley provinces were classified as “red areas," local officials are appealing for the establishment of military or police detachment in the area. “There was once a police detachment in Barangay San Roque, located 25 kilometers from the town proper, which deterred New People's Army's activities. After it was removed, abductions and harassment by the communist rebels have been on the rise again," Lingig police Chief Inspector Ignacio Serrano Jr. told GMA News Online. Serrano said the establishment of military or police detachment will help police secure the town's perimeter defenses. The town is situated near mountainous area in the hinterland boundaries of Davao, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces . Also, he said the local police office has beeen receiving intelligence reports NPA rebels are planning to abduct Lingig Vice Mayor Roberto Luna Jr, now the acting mayor in the absence of Henry Dano, who was abducted on August 6 with two of his military escorts. Luna was abducted twice by NPA rebels in 2006 and again in May 5, 2010. For his part, Luna agreed with Serrano's suggestion, stressing that the nearest detachment of the 75th Infantry Battalion is located in a barangay in Bislig City, which is 35 kilometers from Lingig. “This is the reason why augmentation troops came too late after being informed about the abduction of Mayor Dano. Worst, the responding troops were even ambushed and hit by landmine explosion on their way to the town," he added. Luna claimed that he made same appeal for military or police detachment in 2006 and in 2010 right after his abductors released him. “But all our requests have fallen on deaf ears," Luna told GMA News Online in a separate interview. “It’s time that top military and police officials will hear our plea... because day by day we are threatened by NPA rebels' attack. The abduction of the mayor must serve as lesson. He should not have been abducted if there were enough military and police forces to secure the town," said municipal executive assistant Jerry Dano, the mayor's brother. Abduction incident recalled Mayor Dano's wife Amelia, 54, recalled that when her husband was seized from their house, NPA rebels came on board three vehicles, which could have been easily intercepted had there been checkpoints nearby. “They came around 6:45 a.m. and were allowed to enter our house by members of our household and security personnel because they introduced themselves as NBI agents and wanted to talk to the mayor. The one who approach us was wearing barong with NBI ID," Mrs. Dano said. She said the attackers admitted they were NPA members when they already got the mayor and his two military escorts. “The entire abduction incident only took place less than an hour, but they [the rebels] were polite as they even exchanged pleasantries with us. By 7:30 a.m. they had gone away on three vehicles. The way they speak the Visayan language, it seemed they came from Davao provinces," she said. Mrs. Dano claimed the NPA abductors fled on the same route they used in entering Sabang Village where their house is located. Dano said if only there were military and police detachments the NPA vehicles in convoy brandishing arms could have been easily detected. — Ben Serrano/LBG, GMA News