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Southeast Asia
Maoists kidnap six village candidates in Mindanao
2013-10-27
The Philippine military on Friday reported that heavily-armed guerrillas from the communist New People's Army (NPA) kidnapped six candidates in Agusan del Sur province who are running in the Oct.28 barangay (village) election just three days away.

Lieutenant General Rainer Cruz also said a soldier was injured during a clash in their pursuit operation against the 30 NPA militants who abducted the candidates in the town of Loreto on Thursday morning.

Cruz said the abduction was the latest indication of the NPA's desire to influence the Oct.28 election in which the positions at stake are those for village chairmen and councilmen. To achieve this the militants would harass candidates who either refused their promise of support or rejected their demand for the payment of fees so they could campaign in "NPA-controlled areas".

This practice was not new, but Cruz noted the militants have introduced a new twist based on military intelligence information and captured NPA documents. He said the NPA promised to ensure the victory in the polls of candidates willing to pay them various amounts every month -- $12 each for village chairmen and $5 for councilmen.
Posted by:ryuge

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