Military loses track of Air Force major abducted by Reds

ANGELES CITY — Military rescuers have apparently lost track of Air Force Maj. Neptune Eliquin, who was abducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Floridablanca, Pampanga last July 3.

"We are wondering why the NPA has remained silent about his abduction," Lt. Col. Preme Monta, spokesperson of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) told The Star yesterday.

"We are hoping he is still alive in the absence of any information to the contrary," Monta said.

But Monta also said that last week, rescuers got "unconfirmed" reports from civilian informers that Eliquin remained alive in the hands of his captors. He, however, declined to say where the victim and his captors were seen.

Eliquin was abducted by the rebels while he and two civilians were on their way to distribute relief goods to the Aetas in the mountains of Barangay Mawakat in Floridablanca. He is the civil military relations officer of the Air Force’s 355th engineering wing based at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca. Eliquin’s companions were set free by the rebels.

Nolcom confirmed earlier that the NPA had declared Eliquin a prisoner of war, although military officials dismissed the case as mere abduction. The military already filed criminal charges against the rebels who abducted Eliquin and have been identified as leaders of two NPA groups.

The abductors were reportedly led by Larry Lozano, alias Ka Turi, of the NPA’s Lino Blas command; and Eduardo Ebuque, alias Ka Edu, of the Palermo Ortañez command.

Monta has accused the NPA of double-standard in abducting Eliquin who, he stressed, is a non-combatant and was on a civic mission when taken by the rebels. — Ding Cervantes