Stories linked to abduction, slay try of militants getting wilder
No solid leads are up as stories and theories are getting wilder on the abduction of two militant leaders and wounding of another in Oton, Iloilo.
All identified with organizations said to be local legal front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), police are now looking into several angles as media reports disclosed of a "kidnap-me" ploy.
Such, as Army reports linked the ambush and slay try to the purported "purging" of the CPP hierarchy amidst in-house battle of party leaders. What heightens the party troubles, party insiders shared, is the disbursement and distribution of party funds set for the mobilization of local CPP figures.
Rodel Fullon, noontime anchorman of Bombo Radyo Iloilo revealed yesterday information coming from tipsters of a supposed bulk of money in possession of the missing militants. Though no actual figure was disclosed, it was hinted that a huge amount could be involved in the duo's disappearance said to have come from "revolutionary taxes" paid by candidates in the Province of Antique in exchange for "Permit to Campaign" cards issued by the New People's Army (NPA), armed wing of the CPP.
Meantime, a deadline has been set by Iloilo's top cop as operatives from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) worked on gathering key evidences from the crime scene.
In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Melvin Mongcal, IPPO Director told The News Today (TNT) that a five-(working) day deadline has been set to round up all vital evidences on the case. The deadline ends Thursday alongside strengthened efforts aimed at finding the missing militants.
Senior Supt. Mongcal stressed that the police is driven to resolve the case while maintaining his optimism that the missing duo will be found.
The IPPO Director was in the hospital last Saturday and met with Jose Eli "Leeboy" Garachico's wife and solons sympathetic to the militants who flew in from Manila.
"We immediately reached out to them and we didn't wait," Senior Supt. Mongcal added. "And we will not stop, we assure everybody."
TNT learned that affidavits are all set to be signed though no specifics were released as of press time. Other than Garachico, local witnesses were called in to help establish the surrounding events of that fateful day.
A cartographic sketch of the suspects is also expected as TNT learned of contacts made by the police with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).