Whereabouts of 2 activists still unknown
Arado
The investigation into the shooting of a human rights activist and the abduction of two others has encountered a problem, hindering the early solution of the incident.
Provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal admitted yesterday that they have no information yet on the gunman who shot Jose Eli Garachico, vice chair of Karapatan, and the persons behind the taking of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay chair Nilo Arado and Ma. Luisa Posa Dominado, an official of a support group for former political detainees.
As to who or what group is keeping Arado and Dominado, we do not know yet, Mongcal told The News Today.
But Mongcal stressed that they are following some leads.
Dominado
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has already joined efforts with the Iloilo Provincial Police Office in investigating the incident. Mongcal said that he and the CIDG failed to talk to Garachico Saturday because the latter was not in a condition to accurately recall what the gunman looked like.
Only Garachico has seen the suspects, Mongcal added.
"We will wait until he recuperates, and only then will we talk to him," said Supt. Renato Gumban, regional chief of the 6th Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Garachico is still under intensive care at the Iloilo Doctor's Hospital.
Although facing a dearth of information on the whereabouts of Arado and Dominado, Mongcal said that he has ordered a continuous manhunt to rescue the two. He has already alerted all town police chiefs in the province to be on the lookout for the two.
Also, Mongcal said that a witness to the incident executed a sworn statement narrating the incident.
The victims were on their way back to Iloilo City from San Jose, Antique when they were blocked by the suspects in a Mitsubishi L-300 van. The victims were campaigning for Anakpawis party group, which is seeking congressional seats in the May elections. A gunman shot Garachico and dragged him out of the pick up, leaving him for dead.
Arado and Dominado were dragged out of the vehicle and into the van. Police found the pick up the following day in a remote village in Janiuay, portions of it charred.
Earlier, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay chair Aurelio "Boy" Bosque pointed to the military as behind the attack on their colleagues.
While, the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the 32nd Civil Relations Unit headed by Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez claim that the incident may be part of the purging activities of Communist Party of the Philippines -- New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in the region. Marquez contended that militant groups are legal fronts of the CPP-NPA.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Third Infantry Division (3ID) Philippine Army, Lt. Col. David Tan, challenged the left-wing organizations to show proof that the military is involved in the shooting and abduction of its members.
In a press statement, Tan said that they categorically deny involvement in the incident.
"Therefore, we are challenging the accuser to produce evidence of their wrongful accusations against the military otherwise we will be compelled to file appropriate charges against those who wish to malign the good image of military in the Visayas, because it is a direct affront to the person of the 3rd Infantry Division and the whole leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," part of the statement reads.
Tan also said that the military are helping the local police "in locating and in the safe recovery of the abducted (activists)."