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Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Missing labor organizer a Sparrow leader: Fojas
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
FUNNY! was how Brig. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, commander of the Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade described the claim of the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) that the military could be behind the disappearance of Perseus Geagoni.
"I challenge the NFSW to prove their claim or else they could also be called a great liar," stressed Fojas in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Labor organizer, Geagoni, 42, was reported missing since Monday last week.
His wife, Nieva, said they didn't report the disappearance to the police at first in the hopes that he might just surface anytime.
Geagoni was last seen leaving their house at Zone 14, Talisay City last Monday at 7 p.m., his wife said.
He only asked for permission to get something in the NFSW office located along Verbena St. in Bacolod City. He never came back.
His family now fears that he might have gone the same way as Edwin Bargamento, of Barangay Tortosa, and Manuel Batolina, of Barangay Purisima, both in Manapla town, and Mario Fernandez, of Bago City.
The three, also former NFSW labor organizers, were killed. But their deaths remain unresolved until now.
Bargamento was killed last April 12, Batolina on June 10, and Fernandez on June 13.
Junjun Bareta, NFSW chairman, suspects that the military is behind Geogani's disappearance.
He said Geogani's case is considered part the systematic campaign promoted by the Arroyo administration against militant groups and their leaders.
"They (military) have been linking us to the communist but we are just a progressive and militant group," Barreta said.
Fojas was quick to counter Barreta's claim, saying that they don't have any business in abducting or keeping Geogani.
Fojas admitted, though, that Geogani's name is in the military order of battle. He also disclosed that Geogani is a known leader of the NPA Sparrow Unit in Negros Island.
"He's not a labor organizer but he is a hitman," added Fojas.
For her part, Azera Murillo, Perseus' elder sister, believes that her brother's disappearance is "job related".
She related that "A week prior to his disappearance, two men on motorcycle have been asking information about him. A neighbor confirmed this. (This neighbor) added that these men were asking for Perseus' whereabouts and routine."
Two unknown persons were also reportedly trailing Geogani weeks prior to his disappearance.
Last Monday, Geogani's wife, with the NFSW officials, held a press conference in Bacolod City.
They asked the media's support in appealing to those responsible for keeping Geogani to release him.
(December 14, 2005 issue)
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