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Friday, October 01, 2004
Communist guerillas 'seize' jailed ex-comrade
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Joy G. Romares
DAVAO CITY -- Two prison guards, a clerk and a driver were wounded when communist guerillas ambushed the vehicle carrying a former comrade who was on his way to a court hearing in Compostela Valley Province Thursday morning.
Jordan Donillo, alias Ka Jovan, was aboard a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) vehicle with other inmates when the attack happened. The New People's Army (NPA) guerillas took Donillo with them.
The vehicle carrying the inmates was traveling from Tagum City to Nabunturan in Compostela Valley.
Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico, chief of the military's 5th Civil Relations Group, said six heavily armed rebels fired at the vehicle when it was cruising along Km. 23 in Barangay Sawangan in Mawab, Compostela Valley around 9 a.m.
After a brief gun battle with the prison guards escorting the vehicle, the rebels, clad in fatigue uniforms, fled, taking Donillo with them. They also carted away a shotgun, a caliber 9 mm pistol and a caliber .45 pistol.
The rebels fled towards Mawab hinterlands, leaving the rest of the chained prisoners at the vehicle.
The wounded were identified as jail guards Marlon Caballero, Berner Zozobrado, Wilfredo Galagala and driver Richard Paragoso. Caballero was brought to Medical Mission Group Hospital while the others to Bishop Reagan Hospital in Tagum City.
Adriatico said Donillo, a political and intelligence officer of the NPA's Front Committee 2 of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), was captured by elements of the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Gonzales sometime in May 2004 at Barangay Cabuyuan, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province during a series of combat operations.
Gonzales said the rebels might have abducted Donillo because he had been helping the military through vital information about the communist movement that resulted in a series of successful operations conducted by the Army's 404th Brigade under Col. Rodolfo Obaniana.
"Actually, Donillo has been helping the military in its operation, his comrades might have been terrified by the information he has been giving us. Considering that he was their political and intel officer is enough reason for abducting him," Gonzales said.
Adriatico, meanwhile, said they now fear for the safety of Donillo who might be executed by his former comrades.
"We believe that Jovan will be subjected to the rebel's Kangaroo court which will order his execution because they suffered numerous setbacks from the information he provided to the military," Adriatico said.
The military and police are now conducting hot pursuit operations to rescue Donillo.
Compostela Valley Governor Jose Caballero condemned the attack in strongest terms.
He said the violent and dastardly attack has no place in a civilized society.
Caballero, during his visit to the hospital where the jail guards were being treated, assured their families of full support from the Provincial Government.
He ordered provincial officials to immediately process whatever financial assistance, insurance and benefits due to injured provincial employees.
(October 1, 2004 issue)
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