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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Missing labor organizer might have eloped with girlfriend
MURCIA -- Perseus Geagoni, the missing labor organizer of the National Federation of Sugar Workers from Talisay City since December 5, 2005, might have eloped with his "girlfriend" somewhere else.
This is the theory of the top ranking officials of the Philippine Army here.
Outgoing Central Command in the Visayas of the Armed Forces of the Philippines commander Lieutenant General Emmanuel Teodosio said Karapatan should stop accusing the Army without any basis.
He said, "Geagoni might have gone away with his girlfriend to other places or he might also be a victim of the so-called 'Operation Missing Link' by the New People's Army (NPA)," said Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Jogy Leo Fojas.
The "Operation Missing Link," said Fojas is a modus operandi of the NPA against its very own member or members whom they suspect to have already links with the military or police.
"This has happened already during the late 80s nationwide," said Fojas.
Karapatan-Negros, one of the progressive militant labor organizations in the province, however, stressed that they have proof to vouch their claim that Army 2nd Lieutenant Clarence Garrido, former spokesman of the Army's 11th Infantry Battalion is the man behind Geagoni's disappearance.
In its press statement Friday, Karapatan-Negros said Garrido was in Bangga Pepsi, Barangay Bata, Bacolod on the night of December 5, 2005.
Karapatan added Garrido was then relaying information to his men to the effect that the "operation has been a success."
Garrido, however, said he has nothing to do with Geagoni's case because he has been out of Negros since May of 2005 and that he is mulling to file libel charges against Karapatan-Negros spokesman Fred Caña.
But the group said, "He (Garrido) may be assigned in Manila, but that does not discount the possibility of him being in Negros last December."
Caña also said the burden to disprove that Garrido has a hand on the operation to abduct Geagoni simply rest on him.
He added that Geagoni's abduction was undertaken by a covert intelligence operatives of the Army who have learned from their past mistakes when they bungled up on the cases of Morito Arcadenia and the Camingawan 7.
"Ridiculous," countered Garrido as reaction to Caña's statement.
Teodosio, meanwhile, said if Karapatan's claim is true, then he assured Caña that the army will never condone any violation against human rights involving in particular their soldiers.
Geagoni, according to his wife Nieva was reported missing December 5 after failure to go home from NFSW office in Bacolod. (EASD)
(January 14, 2006 issue)
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