| Doctors prone to abduction as wounded MILF docks JAS, military says |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Tuesday, 26 August 2008 | |
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The military and the police are gluing their watchful eyes to doctors in Davao del Sur to prevent possible abduction in line with reports that wounded MILF renegades docked at the shorelines of Jose Abad Santos town, the other day.
Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, the commander of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) has confirmed reports that more or less 20 persons suspected as MILF members disembarked from an outrigger boat at the shorelines of Barangay Sugal on August 24.
“We are keeping an eye to medical personnel since they are now prone to abduction due to the presence of wounded MILF rebels in the area that could be placed somewhere in the mountain ranges of Jose Abad Santos,” Paniza said.
Paniza reiterated his previous statements that he would allow wounded MILF combatants to seek medical attention in his area of responsibility, “on conditions that they would not carry firearms and do not initiate trouble.”
“They must be treated as human being as they are also Filipinos, like us. But if Kato or Bravo is among them – that’s another story. They must be arrested at all cost to face the crimes they committed to civilians,” Paniza said.
The detachment of the 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Butolan is now in full alert. Butolan is a neighboring village of Sugal.
Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao, Davao del Sur police director deployed the provincial mobile group to Jose Abad Santos to augment the police forces of the town.
Four days ago, military intelligence received reports that suspected MILF rebels got off from two pump boats in the shorelines of Barangays Sugal and Camalian, Jose Abad Santos town.
The military said they could be carrying MILF members from the war zone area in Maasim, Sarangani Province or from Central Mindanao.
Village officials said the reported people disembarking from the boats were Sangil tribesmen from Sarangani Province presenting a marriage proposal to a family in Jose Abad Santos. |