Militants search Army camp for missing members

ILOILO CITY – Left wing groups were allowed to search for their two missing colleagues inside a military camp in Antique yesterday.

Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez of the 6th Civil Relations Group said the open house was aimed at showing that the military was not involved in the killing of activists.

"The militants can even enter the barracks and other quarters," he added.

They are also eyeing the camp of the 12th Infantry Battalion in nearby Miag-ao town under Col. Michelin Logronio, he added.

Aurelio Busque, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay spokesman, led members of left-wing organizations in going around the camp of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion in San Jose town, Antique.

The inspection was part of an "elimination process" to single out the group behind the kidnapping of Bayan-Panay chairman Nilo Arado, former political detainee Ma. Luisa Posa Dominado, and the shooting of Jose Eli Garachico in Oton Thursday last week.

Lt. Col. Nestor Porlucas, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said for security reasons, the militants were not allowed to enter the armory and other areas with tactical value.

Police have no information on the whereabouts of Arado and Dominado, or on the identity of the person who shot Garachico, according to Antique police director Senior Superintendent Melvin Mongcal.