‘No timetable for catching Faeldon’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not letting up on its hunt for fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, but cannot give a timetable as to when he would be recaptured and put back in detention.

“Let’s not even attach that (Faeldon’s capture) to my retirement day because it has nothing to do with that, what we must be conscious of, of the concern is if the soldiers who are assigned to it, are doing it, they are doing their job,” AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said in an interview.

Esperon, who is set to retire early next month, also refused to give updates on the operations directed at recapturing the fugitive officer, who went missing at the height of the combined police and military assault during the standoff at the Manila Peninsula last Nov. 29.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said they believe Faeldon could not carry out any violent action while he is on the run and hunted by authorities. He said the lack of support from the military has rendered Faeldon incapable of conducting any drastic action to advance his interests.

“He can spread propaganda but he is not capable of doing military action,” Bacarro said.

He said it is also unlikely that Faeldon would go around military camps to recruit soldiers to join him.

“He would have to think twice before doing that.  He would not get any support from the soldiers,” Bacarro said.

The PNP has offered P1 million to anyone who could provide information that would lead to Faeldon’s arrest. – James Mananghaya