Gov't negotiator frowns on prisoner swap for abducted mayor

Government peace negotiators dealing with communist rebels frowned on a reported demand by rebels for a prisoner swap for the release of an abducted Mindanao town mayor. Chief government negotiator Alexander Padilla said accommodating such a demand will open the possibility to similar abductions and “swaps" in the future. “Hindi tayo puwedeng pumaloob sa isang blackmail. Kung ano... [parang] extortion na ang pinag-uusapan kung tutuusin. Kung gagawin natin yan, sa susunod ano ang pipigil sa kanila na mag-kidnap uli ng kung sinu-sino na lamang," Padilla said on government-run dzRB radio. Earlier reports indicated the New People's Army (NPA) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) had hinted it will free Surigao del Sur's Lingig town mayor Henry Dano in exchange for the release of their comrades who are in prison. NPA rebels abducted Dano last August 6. Mrs. Amelia Dano said the NPA “raised the idea of a swap" but she told them she “cannot decide on the matter and the only thing I can do is beg the higher authorities, especially the military, to consider the request." Lingig town police head Inspector Ignacio Serrano Jr. confirmed the NPA had sent feelers for swap of prisoners. “They wanted a swap for NPA rebels captured in Davao and a Sparrow Unit member nabbed in Mati, Davao del Sur," Serrano said. But Padilla maintained there should be no conditions especially for the release of non-combatants. “Dapat walang condition ang pag-release kay Mayor Dano at iba pa...," he said. Meanwhile, Padilla hinted the scheduled resumption of peace talks between the government and leftist rebels in September may be in peril due to the abduction. “Meron tayong proposal sa kanila sumagot sila pero 'di pa napipirmi kung matutuloy sa September (We have given them our proposal and they have replied but as of now a September date is not yet certain)," he said. — LBG, GMA News