Abducted mayor's wife: NPA wants prisoner swap

BUTUAN CITY — The wife of kidnapped town mayor in Surigao Sur province on Friday claimed New People's Army rebels who seized her husband and two of his military escorts had told her they will free their captives through a swap. In an interview with GMA News Online, Amelia, the wife of Lingig town mayor Henry Dano, said NPA rebels sent her test messages saying they will release her husband and the two soldiers in exchange for the freedom of their comrades who are in prison. On August 6, NPA rebels seized Mayor Dano, together with his escorts, at his house in Sabang Village. Mrs. Dano told GMA News Online the rebels wanted their jailed comrades to be freed in exchange for the three. “They raised the idea of a swap... but I told them I cannot decide on the matter and the only thing I can do is beg the higher authorities, especially the military, to consider the request", Mrs. Dano said Also, Mrs. Dano said she was not sure the rebels who sent her the messages were from the group holding her husband and two others, adding she has no proof her husband was with them. “Sa totoo lang Sir talagang wala pa silang proof of life na maipakita ni 'hi' ni 'hello' man lang from my husband wala. Kaya kami nag-alala ngayon," Mrs. Dano said. For his part, Lingig Surigao del Sur police chief Inspector Ignacio Serrano Jr. confirmed the NPA had sent feelers for swap of prisoners. Citing reports reaching his office, Inspector Serrano said Mayor Dano and the two soldiers will be released in time for the 42nd anniversary on August 21 of the establishment of the NPA command in the Davao area, provided the government will do so for their captured comrades. "They wanted a swap for NPA rebels captured in Davao and a Sparrow Unit member nabbed in Mati, Davao del Sur," Serrano said. GMA News Online tried but failed to contact the Lingig Crisis Committee chairman Vice Mayor Roberto Luna Jr, who is handling the problem. Earlier, Luna said they are already extremely worried about the situation of Mayor Dano, adding that the absence of "proof of life" 13 days after the abduction might give credence to rumors Dano and his escorts might have been killed in a crossfire between pursuing soldiers and NPA rebels. Citing unverified information, Luna said a skirmish during a pursuit operation resulted in huge number of casualties from both the military and the rebels' sides. After the incident, hospitals and clinics in Davao Oriental refused to take in more casualties for lack of rooms to accommodate the wounded, Luna said. — Ben Serrano/LBG, GMA News