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Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Military denies abducting 3 youths
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO -- Top ranking military officials in the region rejected Monday accusations they were behind the abduction of three militant youths and their driver in Maco, Compostela Valley last week.
A military intelligence officer, who requested anonymity, said they do not have an agent named Willie Javier. Witnesses had identified Javier, an alleged officer of the military intelligence group (MIG), to be behind the abduction.
Major Jose Faustino, commander of the military's regional intelligence security unit, also denied having anything to do with the abduction of Marjorie Reynoso, Jonathan Benaro, Lito Doydoy and tricycle driver Ramon Regase Jr.
Both officers claimed it was not their style to abduct citizens.
Reports said Reynoso, Benaro and Doydoy, all members of AnakBayan, were attending a meeting in Tagum City on Friday afternoon. Raymundo Jarque, a former Army officer, was allegedly the guest speaker.
The victims were abducted while on their way home to Maco aboard the motorcycle driven by Regase near the Hijo Plantation in Apokon, Davao del Norte, just a few kilometers away from PNP's 1101st outpost.
According to the militant group Karapatan, witnesses said one of the victims was shot on the leg. The three were told to alight from the motorcycle and forced into the vehicles of their abductors.
A few hours before the alleged abduction, a military intelligence officer was reportedly looking for Reynoso.
JP Ramada, AnakBayan Davao chapter secretary general, said a certain Badoy, a motorcycle driver, identified the officer as a certain Willie Javier.
Ramada added that after the abduction, Reynoso's mother, Gloria, called up the victim through her mobile phone but an unidentified man answered.
The man who answered the phone reportedly laughed when asked about the whereabouts of Reynoso, he claimed.
Gloria allegedly went to the Police Regional Office in Camp Catitipan, Buhangin in Davao City on September 20 to ask for help.
Ramada said Gloria later received a call from somebody who identified himself as Benjie and who reportedly told her, "Kabalo ko naa ka sa regional." (I know you are at the PNP regional office.)
Benjie allegedly told Gloria that he knew most of the officers in the MIG.
Ramada said nothing more was heard of the victims. He said they went to the crime scene and saw traces of blood in the area.
He demanded the release of the four victims, adding that the incident is "part of the continuing campaign of the government on state terrorism and to silence progressive organizations like the AnakBayan."
(September 23, 2003 issue)
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