Elusive sergeant nabbed

A military man linked to the murder of two human rights activists in Oriental Mindoro two months ago, was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Fort Bonifacio in Makati City yesterday.

However, Army Master Sgt. Donald Caigas, intelligence officer of the 204th Infantry Brigade, was collared by agents of the NBI-Special Operations Group (SOG) by virtue of a warrant of arrest for robbery issued by Quezon City Judge Jaime Salazar of Regional Trial Court Branch 103 way back in 1996.

Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida presented Caigas to media yesterday at the NBI headquarters in Manila. The Army man was in complete fatigue uniform but shielded his face with a green netting.

Human rights activists Eden Marcella and Eddie Gumanoy were found dead on April 20 after investigating a mauling of a barangay official in Barangay Tambong, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. Caigas was allegedly involved in the mauling incident.

Caligas denied yesterday any involvement in the robbery as well as knowledge of the mauling incident.

Marcella and Gumanoy had been investigating alleged human rights abuses of military officials in the barangay. The military’s possible involvement in the case prompted the Department of Justice (DOJ) to form Task Force Mindoro, which had summoned military officials implicated in the incident.

During the press conference, Calida chided Caigas for snubbing the s ummons issued by task force officials. "As military official, you should have yielded after receiving the summons."

Caigas explained that he failed to surrender for fear of his life.

"I fear for my security. The story has been published and I was informed that members of the NPA (New People’s Army) were looking for me. I was also looking for my counsel that would represent me," he said.

Calida said Caigas’ immediate superior Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan would also be asked to shed light on the case involving Caigas, who has standing warrant of arrest for robbery committed on March 3, 1994.