NPAs release Surigao mayor
By Alexis Romero and Edith Regalado
The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels released yesterday abducted Lingig, Surigao del Sur mayor Roberto Luna Jr. and his four escorts, separate statements from the military and the New People’s Army (NPA) said.
Luna and Police Officers 3 Allan Dapitona and Boy de Castro, Private First Class (PFC) John Rey Abao and PFC Arnel Dizon of 58th Infantry Battalion were released from the NPAs custody around 6 o’clock Monday evening in an undisclosed place in Davao Oriental.
Army 10th Infantry Division spokesman Capt. Emmanuel Garcia said the five were released by the NPA at around 6 p.m. at Sitio Pamian, Barangay Bogac, Lingig, Surigao del Sur
He said governor-elect Johnny Pimentel, his wife Leles, and Tita, wife of elected Bislig city mayor Librando Navarro were present at the area to ensure the release of the hostages.
Luna was then brought to his residence while his security escorts were brought to their respective headquarters for debriefing and medical check up.
Previous reports state that the rebels were demanding P2 million to P3 million from the family of Luna and the local government of Surigao del Sur for the release of the hostages. The military, however, cannot confirm the veracity of these reports.
“If directly or indirectly money was given to the kidnappers for the safe release of the victims, then our fear of NPAs resorting to “kidnap for ransom” scheme to generate funds and war materials has finally come true,” said Maj. Gen. Mario Chan, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division.
“Kidnapping with robbery charges will be filed by our soldiers against those responsible,” he said.
In a statement, the NPA Conrado Heredia Command said Luna was released after apologizing for the “crimes” he committed.
“Luna has admitted his culpability in maintaining a large private armed group consisting of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) elements and hired goons,” said Conrado Heredia Command spokesman of Roel Agustin II.
“He (Luna) employed this private armed group in furtherance of his political and economic interests and in the process violated the human rights of the masses,” he added.
The NPA accused Luna of murdering former Lingig mayor Amerosin Onsing in 2001, grabbing peasant lands, engaging in environmentally destructive logging, human rights violations and corruption.
“Despite Luna’s release from detention, the legal and judicial procedures in connection with these cases will continue; only his custodial detention is terminated,” Agustin said.
The military, however, said the release of the hostages confirms that the allegations against Luna are baseless.
“Whether or not a P3 million ransom was paid, the release proves that the alleged cases bannered by the NPAs against their victims are concocted and without any basis,” Garcia said.
Luna and his four security aides were kidnapped on May 5 at the boundary of Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley. Luna, who just won as vice mayor of Lingig, was about to visit his sick child in Davao City when the incident happened. – With Ben Serrano
Communist rebels free mayor, four others
By Al Jacinto
The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Communist rebels freed on Tuesday an abducted southern Filipino town mayor, two soldiers and two policemen who were held in captivity for more than a week, security officials said.
Officials said the New People’s Army (NPA) released outgoing Mayor Roberto Luna of Lingig town, Private First Class John Rey Abao and Arnel Dizon, and Police Officers Boy de Castro and Alan Dapitanon in the village of Bogac also in Lingig town. Luna is the newly elected vice mayor of the town.
The hostages were handed over to the group of Gov. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, who ensured the safe release of the five men.
The release of the hostages came about after reports said that some P3 million in ransoms were paid to the rebels. The military is verifying if the reports were true or not.
“We are trying to validate these media reports that ransoms were paid to the NPA,” said Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.
But the NPA said the mayor was freed after he apologized for the various criminal charges leveled against him by the rebel group.
“The People’s Democratic Government in Guerilla Front 20 has ordered the release of detainee current Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna Jr. on account of his voluntary admission of culpability and issuance of a public apology in relation to the various crimes for which he stands accused of in the revolutionary People’s Court,” said Roel Agustin, a rebel spokesman.
“The Merardo Arce Command-New People’s Army has likewise directed the Camp for the Administration of Detainees of the Conrado Heredia Command-NPA to release the four Prisoners of War who are AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]/PNP [Philippine National Police] elements,” he added.
Agustin said Luna and his aides were also freed on humanitarian grounds after their families and other groups appealed to the NPA for their safe release.
Maintainer of private army
He added the politician allegedly admitted maintaining a large private armed group consisting of soldiers, policemen and hired goons.
“He [Luna] employed this private armed group in furtherance of his political and economic interests and in the process violated the human rights of the masses,” Agustin said.
The NPA earlier accused Luna of allegedly being involved in the murders of former Mayor Amerosin Onsing of Lingig town in 2001, and the Suazo brothers in the village of Union in 2007.
Luna was also accused of grabbing some 30 hectares of farmlands owned by peasants in the village of Pagbacatan and in Dahican Island and was engaged in destructive logging. He was also charged by the NPA of human rights violations and embezzlement of “people’s money.”
“Despite Luna’s release from detention, the legal and judicial procedures in connection with these cases will continue; only his custodial detention is terminated. As for the four POWs [prisoners of war], the investigation shall be suspended.”
“The NPA and the revolutionary masses enjoin Luna to desist from doing acts inimical to the interest of the people, particularly peasants and Lumad tribesmen, respect their political, economic, social and other human rights and make amends to those whom he had done injustice to,” the rebel spokesman said.
The allegations cannot be independently confirmed. The mayor and his group were seized by rebels on
May 5 near the boundary of Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley provinces. Rebel forces also confiscated from Luna’s group five M16 automatic rifles, two .45-caliber pistols, one 9-mm automatic pistol and one .380-cal pistol.
The military said Luna was on his way to visit his sick child in Davao City when some 30 rebels blockaded a highway and flagged down the politician’s car and seized him and his aides.
NPA rebels last month also abducted former Mayor Arfran Quinones of Lupon town, who was seeking re-election, and his aide in the village of Marayag in Davao Oriental province.
Two followers of a House Speaker Prospero Nograles were also abducted in Davao City in March after the lawmaker failed to pay extortion money. And five of his supporters were also held this month in Davao City for failing to pay protection money.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is waging a secessionist war for the past four decades.
NPA frees mayor, four escorts
By Victor Reyes
Malaya – www.malaya.com.ph
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
NEW People’s Army rebels yesterday released the outgoing mayor of Lingig town, Surigao del Sur and his four escorts, whom they snatched last May 5 while the group was on its way to Davao City.
Mayor Roberto Luna Jr. and his security men were freed around 12:45 a.m. in Sitio Pamian, Barangay Bogac in Lingig town. They were fetched by Surigao del Sur governor-elect Johnny Pimentel and his wife, Leles.
Luna was later brought to his house in the town, said Lt. Col. Michele Anayron, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.
Luna is a three-term mayor. He won as vice mayor in the May 10 polls, running under Lakas-Kampi CMD.
Also released were Pfc. John Abao, Pfc. Arnel Dizon, PO2 Boy de Castro and PO3 Alan Dapitanon who were assigned as the mayor’s bodyguards.
The two soldiers are undergoing debriefing and medical check-up at the 4th ID headquarters in Cagayan de Oro City.
Luna and his escorts were intercepted by a group of armed rebels at the boundary of Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley while aboard two vehicles. They were on their way to a hospital in Davao City, where a child of the mayor was confined.
Anayron said they have information that the NPA demanded P2 million and firearms from Luna’s family and the provincial government which negotiated the release.
He could not say if money changed hands but noted Luna’s statement there was no ransom payment.
In a statement, the NPA’s Condrado Heredia Command said it released Luna and his escorts "on account of his voluntary admission of culpability and issuance of a public apology in relation to the various crimes for which he stands accused of in the revolutionary People’s Court."
Roel Agustin II, spokesman of the NPA command, said they also released Luna and the four prisoners of war "as a humanitarian consideration to the appeals made by their respective families and friends and various individuals and groups who made representations on their behalf."
Agustin said Luna admitted during their investigation that he is maintaining a "large private armed group" composed of military and police elements and hired goons.
Agustin said the NPA would continue investigating Luna in connection with the killing of former Lingig Mayor Amerosin V. Onsing in 2001, and of two brothers in 2007; land grabbing of 30 hectares of peasant lands in Barangay Pagbacatan and in Dahican Island; engagement in environmentally destructive logging; human rights violations; and embezzlement of people’s money.
NPA frees Surigao Sur mayor, aides
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
TAGUM CITY—NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY REBELS ON MONDAY CONfirmed the release of a Surigao del Sur mayor and his four bodyguards, who were seized by the rebels in Compostela Valley on May 5.
Roel Agustin II, spokesperson of the New People’s Army’s Conrado Heredia Command, said in a statement that the NPA has decided to release Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna and his companions following his “voluntary admission of culpability and issuance of a public apology” on his alleged crimes against the revolutionary movement.
Johnny Pimentel, governor-elect of Surigao del Sur, said in a text message to the Inquirer that the mayor and the other hostages are now in his custody and that “they are fine.”
Agustin said the NPA released Luna also for humanitarian reasons and amid appeals made by relatives, friends and supporters.
He said, however, that the NPA’s “judicial proceedings” against Luna would continue.
The NPA has accused Luna of land grabbing, murders and other charges that carry the death penalty in the underground movement.
“Only his custodial detention is terminated. As for the POWs, investigation shall be suspended,” Agustin said.
Luna and his bodyguards—soldiers John Rey Abao and Arnel Dizon and policemen Boy de Castro and Alan Dapitanon—and two more aides were seized by NPA gunmen at a roadblock along the national highway in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
Luna was on his way to Davao City to visit a sick child when he was taken.
His aides—a driver and a secretary—were freed ahead of the mayor and his bodyguards.
While Luna and his escorts had been freed already, the fate of four government soldiers seized by NPA rebels in Mawab, Compostela Valley, on May 12 remained unclear as of yesterday.
The government soldiers—Corporals Marcial Bagawan, Ariel Asumo and Eduardo Alcala, and militiaman Victor Pitogo—were abducted at the birthday party of Bagawan’s son in Barangay Sawangan.
Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, public affairs officer of the 10 Infantry Division based in Davao City, said the four soldiers were forced into a black van that was seen heading for Barangay Sabang in Compostela Valley.
Garcia said the rebels involved in the abduction of the four soldiers could be the same ones who took part in the May 11 ambush of a convoy of soldiers and civilians transporting election paraphernalia in Compostela Valley.
At least five people were killed in the May 11 ambush while 12 others were injured.
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