FORMER Sunstar Davao columnist Margarita Valle was reportedly arrested on Sunday morning, June 9, by the authorities at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
In an interview with her son, Rius Valle, he said they lost communication after the arrest.
She was set to board a plane going back to Davao City after conducting a writing training-workshop in Pagadian City for Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.
He said his mother texted him at around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday informing him that she is going back to Davao.
“Nahibal-an ang arrest tungod naka-last minute call siya kay Sr. Mila Gimeno of Assumption College of Davao (relative). During the call, nadunggan ni Sr. Mila nga under arrest na siya, and dad-on siya sa CIDG para didto daw i-interrogate (We found out that she was arrested because she had a last minute call with Sr. Mila Gimeno of Assumption College of Davao. During the call, Sr. Mila heard that my mother was under arrest and will be brought to the CIDG to be interrogated),” Rius said.
After their call was cut, she could no longer be reached.
He added that Major Napoleon Carpio of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Mindanao confirmed her arrest but the operation was conducted by CIDG-Zamboanga Peninsula. They are now checking with CIDG if her mother is there.
After the incident, they are now calling on the authorities to release her mother immediately and follow due process, citing that her arrest has no basis.
Meanwhile, as of 5:03 p.m., Rius posted in his FB account: "A spot report forwarded to CIDG Pagadian was obtained by the Radyo Ni Juan Media saying she was arrested by combined CIDG Zamboanga del Sur PFU, RSOG PRO9, PIB-ZDSPPO, 102nd BdPA, 53rd IB, AVSEG10 and Laguindingan MPS by virtue of Warrant of Arrest for Multiple Murder with Quadruple Frustrated Murder and Damage to Government Property with CC#508 issued by Hon. Judge Bernadette Paredes-Encinareal, RTC 10th Judicial Region, Branch 36, Calamba, Misamis Occidental. Obviously these are all trumped-up charges."
He added, "Her whereabouts is still unknown. #SurfaceMargaritaValle."
SunStar Davao tried to get the side of CIDG-Zamboanga Peninsula through their Facebook page, but as of press time, there was no response yet.
In a statement, SunStar has expressed concern over its former columnist.
"There is still no clear picture of what had happened, but what is clear to us is that a 61-year-old mother and writer poses no threat to anybody having dedicated her life to journaling the lives and helping the underprivileged," the media outfit said in a statement.
It added, "We hope that there is a valid reason for what had transpired and the law enforcers will be straightforward with this case -- a balanced investigation, no trumped up charges, and no unverified accusations."
Valle used to write about women, children, and the environment under her column "Bahin sang Bubay" in SunStar Davao.
She raised valid issues and featured strides being made to address these, giving space and coverage for the voiceless and underrepresented.