Magdalo fugitive hiding in Davao City?

DAVAO CITY—A man claiming to be fugitive Magdalo leader Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon called up the local affiliate station here of GMA Channel 7, claiming that he is hiding somewhere in the city.

Darius Relatado, head of  the GMA 7 Davao news gathering team, told The STAR that the a man claiming to be Faeldon sent a text messages to the station’s Testigo News hotline No. 09208312222 last Thursday.

“I’ve been asking him to talk to me and after several exchanges of text messages, he finally agreed to a phone patch (interview) but only very briefly,” Relatado said.

Relatado said that he was able to convince the man to have a phone patch interview at around noon last Friday.

“We were not really that convinced that it was really him (Faeldon). That was why we said in our report that it was somebody claiming to be Faeldon because in the first place, we are not familiar with his voice,” Relatado said.

Faeldon who is facing coup d’ etat charges together with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other rebel soldiers for the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 in Makati City, escaped last Nov. 29 during the Peninsula Manila standoff.

Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and most of the rebel soldiers surrendered while Faeldon and several others escaped after wearing disguises to evade arrest.

The government offered a P1-million reward for any information leading to the capture of Faeldon.

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesman Maj. Rodolfo Sosmeña shrugged off reports of Faeldon claiming to be in Davao City.

Sosmeña said that so far, there has been no intelligence information on Faeldon’s presence in the area of the Eastmincom.

“If he is within the area, we would have a way of knowing. But so far, there have really been no indications of his presence here,” Sosmena said.

In the alleged text message of Faeldon to the Testigo hotline, he did not directly identify himself as Faeldon. “Alam mo captain Marine po ako noon kaya lang nasama ako sa kudeta sa Magdalo. Kaya nagtago ako dito sa Mindanao, sa Davao. Wanted po ako ngayon. Hindi ko lang sabihin pangalan ko. P1 million ang patong sa ulo ko ng gobiyernong GMA.” the text message read

In another text message to GMA 7, Relatado said that Faeldon insisted that the Marines in Mindanao were helping him hide.

Faeldon had previously visited military camps in the country, before he was arrested after the Oakwood mutiny.

The Marine captain usually wears disguises to avoid being recognized.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo said the failed attempt of Trillanes to overthrow the government hurt anew the country’s image.

She also convened yesterday the members of the Cabinet security cluster through a video-conference from Spain, where she had a state visit.

Mrs. Arroyo said she had to issue statements and call for the unscheduled meeting from abroad to ensure the government remains focused on its vital efforts for the nation and the economy.

“Recent events dented the Philippines’ image. While our economy has taken great strides, worst hit by the plot of these selfish rebels are the poor,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said the poor citizens have been benefiting from the upsurge in the economy brought about by foreign and local investments

The President reminded the Cabinet members to continue efforts to mitigate the effects of rising oil prices as well as provide for affordable rice for the masses.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces to intensify their hunt for remnants of the rebel soldiers involved in the failed Peninsula Manila hotel standoff.

“Let’s not allow the troubles last week to affect millions of our countrymen, who are waiting for more infrastructure, cheaper medicines and electricity, peace and progress,” she said. – With Paolo Romero