Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Maneros hunting rebels who abducted their brother By Ben O. Tesiorna and Carlo P. Mallo
THE infamous Manero brothers of North Cotabato are now reportedly pursuing a group of New People's Army members who abducted their brother in Davao City Sunday morning.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that Edel and Norberto Manero are now in Davao City to hunt the group of Lencio Pitao alias Kumander Parago.
Parago's group reportedly abducted a businessman, a retired master sergeant, and another civilian in a remote village in Davao City.
The businessman and the civilian were reported to have been released while the master sergeant remains to be in the hands of his captors.
Reports obtained by Sun.Star Davao from military sources showed that the businessman was identified as one Rafael Lorenzo, while the two others were retired master Sergeant Jose Manero and a certain Froilan Labrado.
Report said the three were abducted inside the estate of Lorenzo at Umbao in Sitio Lorenzo, Barangay Pangyan in Calinan District in Davao City.
The military source added that the rebels also carted away the victims' firearms -- three garand rifles, one shotgun, one .38 caliber snub-nosed, caliber .45 pistol, and 5 units icom radio handset. It was learned that Lorenzo and Labrado were released later in the afternoon on Sunday.
Lorenzo's family owns the Lorenzo Group of Companies where Jose Manero works as consultant for security.
The Maneros are known anti-communists who formed a group in North Cotabato in the 80's. Norberto was jailed for the death of an Italian priest and was just released from prison last year.
