Saturday, March 04, 2006
Demand intensifies for safe release of 11 mountaineers
By Nelson C. Bagaforo
DAVAO CITY -- Demands for the immediate release of the Sagada 11, a group of mountaineers arrested by the Benguet police, have snowballed following the posting of a petition in the Internet by PetitionOnline.com, a free online petition service.
The online petition, which can be read and signed at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/sagada/, demands for the immediate and unconditional release of the Sagada 11.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, 536 individuals, from all over the globe, have already affixed their signatures supporting the petition addressed to the police, military, and the justice department.
The petition also demands that a public apology be issued to the victims and their families.
It also calls for termination from service of those responsible for the arrest of the 11 backpackers, suspected to be members of the communist New People's Army (NPA).
Among those arrested in Sagada, Mt. Province on February 14 were three young Dabawenyos -- Rundren Berloize G. Lao, 24, Anderson Taboacnon Alonzo, 18, and Jethro Villagracia, 21.
Task Force Davao chief Eduardo del Rosario downplayed accusations the three are NPA rebels, saying they are not known to be inclined with the left.
Del Rosario said the families of the three, in fact, live just outside the Army's 73rd IB camp in Calinan, Davao City.
The other backpackers arrested were Aldoz Christian Mañoza, 18, Darwin Padilla Alagar, 21, Arvie Nuñez, 21, Ray Lester Esquerra Mendoza, 16, Neil Russel Sarmiento Balajadia, 25, Ronron Pandino, 20, Frencess Ann Bernal, 15, and Jefferson dela Cruz, 20.
"All of them just wanted to have some fun, after their musical tour," the online petition states.
The group reportedly came from a punk music event held in Tarlac.
Del Rosario said the three Dabawenyos asked permission from their parents to go on a mountaineering expedition in Sagada.
Those arrested were accused of involvement in an ambush in Sagada on February 10 that reportedly killed nine soldiers.
Sagada police said witnesses positively identified the suspects as responsible for the ambush.
The suspects face charges for robbery with homicide and are now detained at the Benguet provincial jail.
The backpackers denied the charges claiming they were in the area for a mountain trekking expedition.
The online petition also described the arrest as "definitely wrong."
"These acts deserve condemnation, if not punishment by recalling all those involved from their duties. The Sagada 11 are innocent, adventure loving trekkers," the petition states. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(March 4, 2006 issue)
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