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Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Archdiocese orders inquiry into Gingoog priest's break-in
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is investigating the break-in inthe house of one of its parish priests even as the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) and Bayan Muna aired suspicions it was the military that was behind the incident.
Fully-armed men wearing black bonnets raided Fr. Juliano Retiquez's residence in a hinterland barangay in Gingoog City at 9 a.m. last Sunday Aug. 24.
The men then took away Retiquez's caretaker using three vehicles and headed towards the Cagayan de Oro city direction.
Mgsr. Rey Monsanto, spokesman of the Archdiocese Sunday said that Archbishop Jesus Tuquib condemned the break-in calling it a "violation of a person's rights to privacy, among others."
He said Tuquib has also ordered that an inquiry be conducted on the break-in and on the abduction of Retiquez's caretaker.
"There is now an ongoing investigation on the case. Archbishop Tuquib has directed Msgr. Tex (Legitimas) who is nearest to the place (of incidence) to make a follow-up on this matter," he said.
"Si Fr. Retiquez gi-ingnan pud nga mag-report kanunay kung naay bag-ong developments (Fr. Retiquez is also directed to report immediately any new developments to the case)," he added.
Legitimas is formerly the parish priest of the Bishop's seat, the San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral in the past.
Meanwhile Monsanto revealed that Fr. Retiquez already faced Archbishop Tuquib for a full report last week. Retiquez narrated what happened and how his caretaker was abducted by the armed men.
"Giingon sa iyang caretaker nga gi-suspetsaan daw si Fr. Retiquez nga nagtago ug kumander sa NPA (According to the caretaker, Fr. Retiquez was suspected to be giving refuge to a New People's Army commander)," Monsanto said.
He said the caretaker, who was the only person left in the house, was taken blindfolded by the armed men believing that he was the NPA commander they were they were after.
The caretaker was however set free after 24-hours of being held-up.
Monsanto said though they already have their suspicions as to who is behind the incident they would like to verify it before releasing any statement to the public.
"Duda nata kay ang pangutana karon kay kinsa man nga grupo ang mangita ug NPA kumander? (We have our suspicions as what group would be interested to look for an NPA commander in a priest's house?)," he said.
Meanwhile, COPC President Jerry Orcullo and Bayan Muna regional spokesman Nero Vallar issued their condemnation on the break-in saying it was a "martial law" operation.
Orcullo said he has suspicions that the incident could be part of a military operation judging on the "modus operanda" they used.
"They were wearing black bonnets and riding on good private vehicles," he said.
He added that it could not be the NPA behind the incident as they would have immediately laid claim on the abduction for "political and organizational propaganda."
"Based on my experience, I suspect that this could be the works of the military as there is that same pattern...unya walay maanindot nga mga sakyanan ang mga NPA tulo pa gyud ka bo-ok (and the NPAs don't own three good vehicles)," he said.
Vallar for his part said it is "clearly" a military operation citing similar incidents like that of the abduction of Julia Cagadas suspected to be an NPA Amazon.
He recounted how Cagadas and two other civilians were abducted in a barangay in Nasipit, Butuan City by men also wearing black bonnets and riding on civilian vehicles.
The two other civilians were released at Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon where a major military unit in the province is based.
The two were given P350 each for fare while Cagadas suddenly turned up in the 4th Infantry Division Camp in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro as announced by former spokesman, Col. Johnny Macanas.
"So clearly there is a pattern to what happened to Fr. Retiquez and that of Julia Cagadas...both could only be a military operation," he said.
(September 1, 2003 issue)
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