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Thursday, December 06, 2007
Magdalo soldier in standoff nabbed
MANILA -- A Magdalo soldier implicated in last week’s siege at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was arrested Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) while about to leave for the US, police officials said.
Private First Class Alvin Celestino was held by Aviation Security Group (ASG) policemen and is now facing further investigation, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr.
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“Private First Class Alvin Celestino was arrested this (Wednesday) dawn at Naia while attempting to leave for Detroit,” said Razon, adding that Celestino was supposed to be among the soldiers who reinforced the group of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Razon said Celestino was a member of the four military teams that was to go to the Manila Peninsula and aid Trillanes, former First Scout Ranger Regiment commander Danilo Lim, and the Oakwood mutineers.
“He (Celestino) was one of those who were supposed to move under Team 3. There were a total of four teams that was supposed to help the group of Trillanes and Celestino was a member of Team 3,” said the PNP chief.
Celestino had been earlier held for involvement in the short-lived Oakwood mutiny, which was also led by Trillanes. “He was then held in connection with the July 27, 2003 (Oakwood mutiny),” said Razon.
PNP-ASG Director Atilano Moren Morada said Celestino was held by his men at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after he failed to show documents from the military that he was authorized to leave the country.
“Being a member of the AFP, we have to seek from him travel authority but he couldn’t show anything. There being none, we have to turn him over to units going after him,” said Moranda.
Moranda however added that Celestino had the other travel documents, including passports and tickets.
A composite team from the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and AFP-Intelligence Unit has been deployed to arrest participants linked to the siege.
Among those who are subject of the manhunt operation is Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, one of the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny who was able to escape from the hotel. He previously escaped in December 2005 but was rearrested a month later in Malabon City.
In a related development, the PNP chief ordered Wednesday the relief of 24 Makati policemen, including the deputy city police chief, for lapses in connection with the November 29 standoff in Makati.
PNP spokesman Samuel Pagdilao said Razon also ordered and administrative investigation against the policemen, including Makati Deputy Police Chief Angel Sumulong, for not doing their job during the crisis.
Sumulong was the officer in-charge of the police station. The Makati police chief, Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, was in Bangkok, Thailand on official business at the time of the siege. (VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (December 6, 2007 issue)
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