Too early to lay blame on NPA–Agusan del Sur vice gov

Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur poses for an interview with reporters in December last year saying his town has managed to drive away communist insurgents New People’s Army and dissuaded residents from joining the group. He was a former NPA rebel himself who returned to the folds of the law and managed to enter politics. He and his 27-year-old son were slain last Tuesday. DENNIS JAY SANTOS/INQUIRER MINDANAO

BUTUAN CITY—Agusan del Sur Vice Gov. Sante Cane, a political ally of Loreto town Mayor Dario Otaza, said it was too early to lay blame on the New People’s Army (NPA) as behind the abduction and killing of the mayor and his son Daryl.

This was despite that the elder Otaza had repeatedly vowed to help fight the communist presence in his town, one of the NPA’s strongholds in Agusan del Sur, the vice governor said.

READ: Anti-communist Agusan mayor, son murdered after abduction

Authorities on Tuesday found the dead bodies of the abducted father and son in a remote area here.

Melencio Otaza, the mayor’s elder brother, said the bullet-riddled remains of the 53-year old executive and his 27-year old son were recovered in Purok (sub-village) 2 in Barangay (village) Bitan-agan here past 6 a.m.

In a separate report, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command said operating troops under a 2Lt. Sabandal discovered the bodies around 6:50 a.m.

Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the military’s 4th Infantry Division, said the bodies of Otaza and his son had multiple gunshot wounds, particularly on their chests.

Based on the number of gunshot wounds and the manner of the execution, Martinez said the suspects bore extreme anger against Otaza.

“It’s a hate crime,” he said.

Otaza’s hands and that of his son were also tied behind their backs, the military report added.

The mayor, who was running for re-election, and his son, were abducted from their house in Barangay Baan Riverside here past 6 p.m. Monday.

Cane said the mayor and Daryl were forcibly taken at gunpoint by men who wore shirts similar to the ones worn by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The kidnappers, a police report said, arrived on a black Starex van. They then entered Otaza’s house and dragged the mayor and Daryl out.

Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga police, said the black Starex van used by the armed men in abducting the Otazas had also been recovered in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, some 32 kilometers away from this city.

READ: Agusan Sur mayor abducted by suspected NPA rebels

Col. Alexander Macario, commander of the 401st Infantry Battalion, said the military has suspected that the abductors were members of the NPA.

Otaza was a former NPA rebel but had turned to be a bitter communist critic, he said.

He was also active in the government’s anti-communist campaign in Loreto.

“Mayor Otaza was taken from his house in Butuan and not from his residence in Loreto. It is possible that the rebels are from the Northeastern Mindanao Command,” Martinez said.

He also condemned the killing of the mayor, especially that of his son.

“And why would they even involve Otaza’s special child?” Martinez said.

Gamba said they were investigating if the communist rebels were behind the abduction and murder of the Otazas.

The NPA has not issued any statement on the kidnapping and the subsequent killing of the Otazas.

Former NPA rebel

Otaza surfaced from the underground movement in 1986 after Corazon “Cory” Aquino was installed president.

In May 2013, he was elected mayor of Loreto, succeeding Romeo Magadan Sr.

In 2013, the NPA held him accountable for “torture, intimidation and reign of terror” in Manobo communities in the town as he actively supported the military’s anti-communist campaign. He was even accused of putting up a Bagani force to fight the NPA rebels in the town, who were mostly Manobos like himself.

In his August 23, 2013 statement, Aris Francisco of the NPA has warned that they will carry out “more punitive actions” against such “reactionary forces” like Otaza.

“While the peasant masses and national minorities struggle to defend their ancestral domain, Red fighters are determined to raise its capability to launch more and bigger tactical offensives against the enemies of the people,” Francisco said then.

He also said Otaza’s participation in the military’s anti-communist campaign made the mayor an “enemy of the people.”

“”The military and Mayor Otaza are intent in dismantling people’s organizations and structures that protect and serve the interest of the masses,” Francisco said.

He also said Otaza’s anti-communist campaign “merely foment people’s resistance and revolutionary tide.” With reports from Frinston Lim and Karlos Manlupig/RAM

Originally posted: 11:13 AM October 20th, 2015