Escaped mutineer ‘visits’ Camp Crame

The renegade soldier continues to taunt authorities.

Escaped mutineer Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon released yesterday photos that show him "visiting"the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The undated photographs, supported by video, are currently posted on Faeldon’s website (www.pilipino.org.ph).

Photos show him walking in front of the PNP administration building before asking directions from an unnamed police officer.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP have been hunting down Faeldon following his escape last Dec. 14. The Marine captain, one of the alleged Magdalo leaders of the Oakwood siege in 2003, escaped after a hearing at a Makati court.

Camp Crame is the third major camp Faeldon has "visited" since his escape from the custody of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Website photos also show him at the Western Command headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and the Southern Command (Southcom) headquarters in Zamboanga City.

"Unless the generals man the gates themselves, no one can prevent me from entering these camps," Faeldon said on his website.

Apparently taken by his contact inside a car parked near the headquarters of the Police Civil Relations Group, the video and photographs show Faeldon coming from the Santolan Gate and walking in front of the PNP main building.

Wearing a red shirt and maong pants and carrying a newspaper, the Marine captain stops to ask for directions from a uniformed police officer.

Military and police sources said Faeldon’s Crame visit could have taken place during the holidays as the photos show a Christmas lantern still attached to a lamppost near the flagpole of the national headquarters.

"It was probably during the PNP New Year Call," said one Crame insider, who noted that everyone, including sentries, were probably busy saluting officers to notice Faeldon.

Military and police claimed Faeldon’s photos and video clips, including those taken at Camp Crame, were manipulated through computer photo programs.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said the pictures show Faeldon and his handlers’ mastery of graphic manipulation.

"Let us not be deceived by their antics," Bataoil said.

However, in a text message to reporters, Faeldon said police and military officials are merely trying "to lessen their embarrassment" for their continued failure to arrest him.

"It’s not my job to manipulate. Arroyo and Garcillano are good at that, as well as corrupt generals who are beholden to them," Faeldon said in a statement. "I have no coddlers, but I have supporters from all sectors."

Meanwhile, Southcom has placed wanted posters of Faeldon to alert soldiers guarding military facilities.

The wanted posters have been posted at the sentry and pedestrian gates of the command.

Photos of Faeldon show him in uniform and civilian attire. – With Cecille Surete Felipe, Roel Pareño