Body probes report on missing farmer, fully armed group

By Freddie Lazaro

VIGAN CITY — A fact-finding body composed of law enforcement agencies and Ilocos Sur’s local government is now investigating reports of 20 fully armed uniformed men roaming the countryside and a farmer missing in an upland town in the province.

The investigating body is composed of the police represented by Ilocos Sur police director Senior Supt. Eduardo Dopale, the Philippine Army represented by Col. Rogelio Migote, Commander of the army’s 50th Infantry Battalion and the provincial government of Ilocos Sur led by Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, Vice Gov. Deogracias Victor DV B. Savellano, Provincial Board Members Orlino Tesoro and Robert Tudayan.

The factfinding body was sought by provincial board member Tudayan during a privilege speech in a regular session who wanted an investigation into reports of a missing farmer identified as Nicolas Ramos, a resident from Barangay Poblacion, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur and the presence of fully – armed uniformed men who claimed themselves as New People’s Army rebels in Salcedo, Galimuyod and Santa Lucia towns in the province.

Tudayan said Ramos, an uncle of slain NPA member Randy Ramos, was reported missing since July 24, 2010 and was allegedly kidnapped by the reported armed men wandering in the towns of Salcedo, Galimuyod and Santa Lucia when he went to Barangay Dinaratan, Salcedo town to help his relatives in planting rice.

There was a report that before Ramos went missing, fully armed men were seen near his house.

According to Tudayan, sometime on the third week of July or before Ramos went missing, he received reports from civilians about the presence 20 fully-armed men who identified themselves as NPA rebels roaming around Barangay Baracbac, Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur.

He said these armed men were reportedly harassing the local residents while soliciting rice and other foods and took what they want from them.

These armed men were also looting fishponds maintained by the local folk near the rivers in Galimuyod town and they also engaged cattle and goat rustling in the towns of Salcedo and Santa Lucia.

“Because of these malicious, unlawful and shocking activities of the armed group, the residents reported it to the commander of the CAFGU unit based in Barangay Bitong, Galimuyod town but to their dismay, their pleas fell on deaf ears,” Tudayan said.