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Thursday, November 02, 2006
Rob raps readied v. rebel leader, others
By Joy Romares-Sevilla
DAVAO CITY -- Police are ready to file charges against New People's Army (NPA) leader Leoncio Pitao, alias Kumander Parago, and 25 other rebels for allegedly robbing three employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The robbing incident occurred on the same evening that the rebels set fire to the Globe Tower in Barangay Manay, Panabo City on October 21.
The two van drivers identified as Ernesto Arlalejo and one alias Dodong will be included in the charges.
"One of the charges to be filed against them is robbery. They took the cellphone, wallet, and shotgun of their hostage," said Panabo City Police Office Director Glenn Cristines.
The DENR employees--Alfonso Lavador, Celerino Gulane, and Gemelo Hibales--were manning the DENR checkpoint in Barangay Manay at around 7 p.m. when Pitao's group forced them to board the van.
Cristines said they already submitted the affidavit of witnesses to the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for the processing of the case.
"They (CIDG) will be the ones to file the case," Cristines said, adding that another group called Pialag (Provincial Inter Agency Legal Action Group) is also investigating the incident.
Cristines claimed they are looking into possibility that the tower was burned because Globe refused to pay revolutionary taxes to Pitao's group.
The rebels were believed led by Pitao. A man introduced himself as Pitao to the two van drivers who were driving the commandeered vehicles that the rebels used.
"The drivers eventually reported to us a few days after the incident. Their case will be a regular filing since they were not caught in a hot pursuit operation. They will also be charged, the court will be the one to determine the veracity of their allegation," Cristines said.
Cristines said alias Dodong claimed that two unidentified persons hired him and directed him and his co-driver Arlalejo to proceed to Barangay Manay in the afternoon of October 21.
He was ordered to stop the vehicle when they reached Manay and 25 armed men boarded the two vehicles.
Cristines said barangay chief Dominador Cayetano of Manay has not filed charges against Pitao and his companions for taking hostage the barangay official's wife Rosalina.
Rosalina was forcibly taken by Pitao and his companions from Cayetano's house a few minutes after the respondents set fire to the Globe tower.
Rosalina was released when the respondents reached New Malitbog, also in Panabo City.
"Barangay captain Cayetano and his wife have just submitted an affidavit for the case that the CIDG will be filing," Cristines explained. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga.
(November 2, 2006 issue)
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