NPA justifies kidnap of Agusan trader

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) justified its kidnapping of Agusan del Sur trader Carzon Ceasar Lademora over the weekend, saying the “arrest” was part of the group’s punitive actions against alleged abuses of the Lademoras.

The Front Committee 14 of the Northeastern Mindanao Region also admitted that they confiscated from Lademora’s group a total of 21 firearms, according to a press statement dated May 14 and sent via e-mail. It was signed by NEMR Regional Operational Command spokesman Ariel Montero.

The NPA’s statement added that when the rebels raided Lademora’s mining tunnel in Sitio Anoling, Barangay Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur in the morning of May 13, not a shot was fired.

Montero identified the seized high-powered firearms as two M16s, one AK47, one BAR, one M14, one Garand rifle, four carbines, three M79 launchers, three shotguns, four .45 caliber handguns and one .38 caliber revolver. Assorted ammunition, magazines and other military supplies were also taken away.

“The confiscation of firearms from the armed forces of the Lademora family is a punitive action of the NPA for the long record of abuse, crime, destruction of people’s livelihood and exploitation of small miners committed by the Lademora family. The raid and arrest served also as justice for the victims,” the NPA’s statement read.

“Continuing control of armed forces and the remaining notorious Lost Command forces of the Lademora family monopolized mining in Sinug-ang, Barangay Bayugan 3 and deprived other people of livelihood. Residents feared the existence of said armed group controlled by the Lademoras,” it further stated. 

The statement also clarified that Abud Lademora is the brother, not the son as earlier reported, of former San Francisco, Agusan del Sur mayor Carl Lademora. He is the son of the late and former Philippine Constabulary colonel Carlos Lademora.

Lademora will face charges filed by victims before the NPA justice system, according to the rebel group.