Military denies farmer’s arrest

BAGUIO CITY  , Philippines  —  The military in Ilocos Sur has denied allegations that soldiers arrested a farmer suspected of helping a group of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas who strafed several soldiers in Quirino town.

“We do not have police power to arrest civilians,” Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias, chief of the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion said yesterday.

Osias was referring to claims by members of the Ilocos Human Rights Advocates (IHRA) that the military arrested Mario Wandas on Saturday morning.

A group of guerrillas reportedly opened fire at Army soldiers, who were helping fix a school in Barangay Patiacan on Oct. 15.

Osias admitted the Army  interrogated Wandas on his alleged involvement in the incident.

Wandas denied participating in the incident that left a soldier dead and another wounded. 

The IHRA claimed the military harassed Wandas for several days before he was allegedly arrested.

Osias said the Quirino town police invited Wandas for questioning on Saturday, with the permission of village elders, villagers and the farmer’s family.

Wandas’ family, the IHRA said, is worried about his safety. He remains missing.

Meanwhile, an NPA unit operating in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur yesterday admitted to torching P9 million worth of heavy equipment owned by a quarry firm in Barangay Bonbon, Butuan City.

The attack was reportedly in retaliation for the firm’s refusal to pay revolutionary taxes, according to Omar Ibarra, spokesperson for the rebel group.

The NPA reportedly sent an emissary to the quarry firm to discuss the payment of taxes.

“Quarry firm operator Gil Cembrano had the emissary arrested,” Ibarra said.

            – With Ben Serrano