|
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Coed killed in clash a hostage: ex-rebel
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The 22-year-old female student killed in a gun battle in Bukidnon on May 14 was not a member but a hostage of the communist armed group New People's Army, a former rebel said recently.
Mario (surname withheld), a member of the Pulang Bagani Command 1 uner Kumander Parago, said he was with Jane Quintos for more than a month before she was killed.
"Miingon siya sa akoa na estudyante daw sya sa Davao ug dinakpan daw siya ni Parago kauban ang laing unom pa. Ingon nya nga nangambak na daw tong uban dinakpan ug siya na lang nabilin," Mario narrated. (She told me that she was a student in Davao and that she was a captive of Parago with six others. The six others have since been able to escape leaving her behind.)
The 16-year-old rebel returnee, among 70 rebels involved in the encounter in Bukidnon, said Quintos was with them when their group clashed with government soldiers in Sitio Gopako, Barangay Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon last May 14.
Mario said Quintos was hit by mortar shelling and though still alive, was left behind by the rebel group.
He does not think though that the soldiers finished her off, saying she died from the wounds she got in the mortar explosion.
Mario said another rebel identified as Bulao also died in the encounter while seven other guerillas were wounded.
He added that Quintos' younger sister, identified as Gaga, is a member of the rebel movement. Mario said when he decided to surrender last May 19, Gaga was still with the rebel group.
The military earlier said Quintos was a student of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) based on the school ID they recovered from the slain coed.
This was, however, denied by the Ateneo management saying that they do not have any record of a student named Jane Quintos.
Based on computer records shown by Marie Lanaban, secretary at the Registrar's Office, there is only one Quintos listed since 1996. Her name is Maria Bettina.
Ateneo registrar Rene Villarente said the identification card was probably fake.
(May 24, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
4 High Court officials granted allowances