Davao Oriental mayoral bet emerges from ‘discussions’ with NPA

MATI CITY, Davao Oriental—The mayoral candidate who was reported to have been abducted by the New People’s Army in Baganga town has resurfaced and claimed  he was just “invited for some discussions” by the rebel group.

Ronnie Osnan, independent mayoral candidate in Baganga, said he was not abducted by the rebels but was simply “invited” to a discussion about his plans if he won in the May 13 elections.

Osnan was reported to have been taken by the rebels in the village of Marquez in Baganga on May 1.

“I was not abducted. How can you say it was an abduction when there was prior communication?” Osnan told the Inquirer, adding that the rebels had sent him text messages about their plan to talk to him.

“Maybe they were curious that I’m popular,” he said.

Osnan was in the company of the communist rebels from 3 p.m. on May 1 to 5 p.m. of May 2.

“But we did not talk the whole time I was with them,” he said. “Of course, we had dinner and time to sleep.”

Osnan said the rebels asked what he would do if elected. He said he told them he saw “the need for the construction of a bridge in the village of Marquez that will benefit some 8,000 people.”

He denied that he gave the rebels money and firearms in exchange for his release.

“They did not ask for that. And even if they did, I would not give in to that,” he said.