Friday, January 19, 2007 Politicians, traders coddle rebel leader: military By Ben O. Tesiorna
A MILITARY official has confirmed reports that Leonardo Pitao alias Kumander Parago, notorious leader of the New People's Army operating in Southern Mindanao, is being coddled and protected by some businessmen and politicians in the Davao Region.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Bautista, chief of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion, said he has a list of Parago's coddlers and his unit is now gathering pieces of evidence against them.
The evidence will then be forwarded to higher headquarters for legal action.
Bautista said these politicians and businessmen are the ones providing safe houses and vehicles to Parago whenever he comes down from the mountains.
He refused though to name these traders and politicians, but assured they are doing their best to bring the Parago coddlers to justice.
The coddlers of Parago are those who are benefiting from the rebel leader's nefarious operations in the hinterlands, Bautista charged without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief Benhur Mongao said they will study the affidavit of Leilani Mapula, who claimed that she was abducted by Parago's group on December 10, 2006.
Mapula said Parago's men went to their residence in Purok 3, Barangay Upper Mabuhay in Carmen, Davao del Norte that day and "invited" her to settle the case of her brother, Rocky, who was snatched by the rebels on November 20, 2006.
Mapula's brother was accused of rape by a high school student in their town.
Mapula, however, later learned that Rocky was already executed by Parago's group on December 1. She said she wanted to go home upon learning this but Parago would not let her go.
Mapula said an amazon was constantly guarding her making an escape impossible.
But on January 11, the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion intercepted Mapula and her escort identified as Curoly Melon alias Maymay while the two were on their way home to their camp in Barangay New Malaga, Panabo City.
The two were arrested and placed under tactical interrogation. Both revealed that around 20 rebels are holed away from their location.
The soldiers immediately went to the area and intercepted Marcial Dosmanos alias Larry, squad leader of the 3rd Squad Basil Platoon of the Pulang Bagani Command 1 under Parago.
The soldiers failed to engage the rebels as they scampered away from the advancing troopers.
Bautista said Maymay and Larry have pending warrants of arrest and will be turned over to the court for proper disposal.
He said Larry is facing rebellion charges while Maymay is among those responsible for the burning of a Globe tower and the slashing of hundreds of banana trees at a banana plantation here in Davao City late last year.
Mapula, on the other hand, will be given assistance by the Army to start a new life.
