Monday, October 13, 2008 Armed men ‘spotted’ in Camotes
FOUR armed persons allegedly dressed in camouflage fatigues were reported to be looking for cell sites in a village in Camotes Island, Cebu, raising concerns for possible sabotage attacks.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria said they are checking the report.
Valmoria, however, said it is “unusual” for persons planning to target cell sites to openly ask residents where these are located.
He said the presence of armed rebels was not also established in Camotes as insurgents need a mass base to be able to operate in the island.
Firearms
A security guard in Sitio Dumalerio, Barangay San Isidro, San Francisco town was the one who alerted authorities after spotting the men, who sported long hair and were armed with long firearms.
They were allegedly asking residents where cell sites were located in San Francisco town.
A town councilor informed the San Francisco Police Station of the sighting and a team led by their station chief, Senior Insp. Ciriaco Larrobis, proceeded to the area.
The policemen failed to catch anyone but residents gave them a description of the armed persons.
1st report
Comendador said most rebel movements are in Leyte, Negros and Bohol.
He, however, said they still would not discount the possibility of rebels in Camotes, so they will “dig deeper” into the incident.
It was the first report on sightings of armed persons in Camotes during the past months.
In the last elections, heavily armed men were reported roaming the island.
At least 10 armed men last year also barged into the house of Barangay Councilor Jesus Mecaros, wounded his wife, and shot dead his caretaker.
The men were looking for Mecaros, who was not home that time.
Two perpetrators, who were armed with M16 rifles, were identified as his relatives.
Though the attack happened when the October 2007 barangay elections was drawing near, with Mecaros seeking reelection, the police did classify the incident as election-related.
Incidentally, Mecaros owns the lot where the cell sites of all telecommunications networks are located in San Isidro.
Valmoria said personnel in the entire Camotes island remains on full alert. (MEA)
