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Monday, February 06, 2006
Abducted Air Force major freed
By Marna H. Dagumboy
FLORIDABLANCA -- After suspected communist rebels kidnapped him seven months ago, Air Force Major Neptune Eliquin of the 355th Aviation Engineering Wing (AEW) was finally released by his abductors, it was learned on Sunday.
Sources confirmed the report through Eliquin's wife, Teresita, who said the Air Force major is now at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City after being released.
Sources also revealed that Eliquin was released after his captors learned that he had no bad intentions in performing his duty, which was to undertake infrastructure developments in the province.
On July 2, Eliquin was abducted by some 30 New People's Army (NPA) rebels at the vicinity of Susong Dalaga in Sitio Uno Malinta, Barangay Mawacat, Floridablanca.
He was reportedly stopped at a checkpoint set up by the rebels in the area, with the NPA guerillas identifying themselves as military personnel and members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu).
Eliquin left his unit at the Basa Air Base, also in the town, to visit his farm in Mawacat and plant Ipil-Ipil trees.
Sources said Eliquin was accompanied by a certain Christopher Batac, 29, founder of Kabataang Bukluran sa Kaunlaran (KKK), an association of out-of-school youths engaged in social activities, and three other minors.
However, Eliquin's companions were released after an hour of abduction.
Meanwhile, on January 10, Technical Sergeant Marlon Alba Oronan of the Philippine Marines (PM) was also freed by his captors at an undisclosed area in the City of San Fernando.
Oronan, a native of Iriga City and assigned to the 6th Marine Battalion based in Lanao del Norte, went back to the province after he was released. Police said Oronan's wife Lilia, former Floridablanca Mayor Tito Mendiola, a priest and a nun were present during the release.
Oronan failed to identify the group that abducted him last Nov. 23, 2005 in Barangay Pulungmasle in the town. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
(February 6, 2006 issue)
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Kidnap charges filed against rebel leader