|
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Arnaiz brands Ka Drilon 'great liar'
By Joe A. Medinilla
NEGROS Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz named last year's Bayawan rob-slay suspect Raul Villar, alias Drilon, as "not only a murderer but also a great liar".
Governor Arnaiz's reaction came after Ka Drilon accused him of maintaining a marijuana plantation under the supervision of a retired army colonel in an unspecified place in the hinterlands of Bayawan City.
Ka Drilon, who has since returned to his former comrades in the mainstream New People's Army (NPA) following the May, 2002 Bayawan City heist and slaying of four municipal employees, identified the retired colonel as a certain Tiempo.
The governor said Ka Drilon is not just a hold-upper but also a liar because he has no evidence to support his claims.
"Dili lang diay siya kawatan og tulisan pero bakakon pa gyud diay si Ka Drilon sukwahi sa akong nahibal-an kaniadto nga maayong tawo", Arnaiz said as he challenged the renegade rebel to invite members of the local press or other individuals to inspect the alleged site to prove it exists.
He explained the issue first surfaced during the 2001 elections when another member of the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), Ka Rendo, accused him of having a marijuana plantation in his hometown in Pamplona.
Arnaiz said that he does not know the alleged retired colonel Ka Drilon mentioned as the governor's supposed marijuana plantation partner and that he wonders why the former RPA-ABB leader was dragging his name into the issue.
The governor said he knew Ka Drilon's father even before he joined politics and that he used to stop by Arnaiz recalled many years ago when he was not yet in the political arena that he usually dropped by the latter's house for a drink of tuba, a local drink from coconut sap.
"Ang amahan ni Ka Drilon akoa na kaayong amigo diin niadtong nag-drive pa ko sa among dekarga mohapit gyud ko sa ilang balay ug usahay inom-inom ug tuba (I know Ka Drilon's father very well. When I used to drive our truck, I'd stop for a drink everytime)", Arnaiz said.
Meanwhile, the governor, defending his hiring of RPA-ABB rebels, said that for as long as they are sincere in their jobs they are welcome to join in the development of the province as in the case in Kakha, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
In the case of RPA-ABB commanders Rey Mallari and Jake Roxas, Arnaiz challenged Ka Drilon to produce evidence to prove both men are in the payroll of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
(April 14, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
