What was believed initially as an alleged kidnapping was reportedly a surrender of an alleged former member of the New People’s Army (NPA).
This is the latest development in the case involving a man who was captured on CCTV being taken by a group of men and led into a white van at 5 p.m. on February 20, 2024 in Barangay San Pedro, Santo Tomas City, Batangas.
One person in a black jacket, seemingly holding a firearm, also joined in.
The brother of the supposed victim reported the incident to the police, claiming it was a kidnapping.
On February 27, 2024, the Santo Tomas City Police held a case conference to discuss the follow-up investigation into the alleged abduction.
According to Police Colonel Rodel Ban-O, Chief of Sto. Tomas City Police, the supposed kidnap victim was traced to the custody of the 903rd Infantry Brigade in Castilla, Sorsogon.
There, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) served a warrant of arrest against him for three counts of murder and for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms Law.
"Last February 23, three days after na siya ay ma-report ng alleged kidnapping dito [ay] sinerve ng CIDG ‘yung warrant as of 4:30 p.m. sa 903rd Brigade," Ban-O said.
The Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disclosed that the man taken into custody allegedly used to be associated with the New People's Army.
SURRENDER?
They clarified that the supposed kidnappers in the CCTV footage were members of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 22nd Infantry Battalion, and a Sorsogon local government employee.
They were reportedly facilitating the supposed kidnap victim’s surrender.
"Si Esteller po ay nagbigay ng kaniyang surrender fillers sa LGU ng Sorsogon, eh nakausap po niya 'yung kaniyang mga kasamahan doon na nasa 903rd Brigade. Gumawa po ng paraan itong LGU kasama po itong 903rd o itong Task Force Bicolandia na ma-facilitate 'yung kanyang pag-surrender at nagkataon pong nasa Batangas [siya]," Colonel Dennis Cana, the Public Information Officer of SOLCOM, said.
"Initially makikita ‘nyo d’on [na] nagulat pa siya, eh pero nu'ng makita niya po 'yung kasama niya doon, hindi na siya kinakailangan lagyan ng posas and then diretso po siyang dinala sa Bicol," Cana added.
SOLCOM admitted that the operation had no coordination with the Sto. Tomas City PNP.
"Wala po siguro kasi ang usapan po diyan, susunduin lang siya eh. So sinundo lang po siya diyan, hindi po kami nag-serve ng warrant, hindi po kami nag-operate — sinundo lang siya at kinakailangan lang po na masiguro na safe siya," Cana said.
SOLCOM added that it's normal for its personnel to always bring a gun.
"Yes po, normal po 'yun, kasi sisiguraduhin na ganun, especially yung LGU na concerned is alam na napakaraming warrant of arrest nito," Cana added.
The brother of the man who reported the alleged kidnapping to the police also reportedly surrendered to the 903rd Infantry Brigade to also face the charges filed against him.
