Ex-allies of Marcos in Manero escape?

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Former North Cotabato Rep. Gregorio Andolana tagged yesterday former allies of President Marcos who are now opposing the Arroyo government to be likely behind the escape of priest-killer Norberto Manero Jr. from the Sarangani provincial jail last March 22.

Andolana, a prosecutor in the trial against Manero for the 1985 murder of Italian missionary Fr. Tullio Favali in Tulunan, North Cotabato told a local radio station here that certain politicians in North and South Cotabato would likely use Manero to threaten voters in the coming May 14 elections.

He received information that Manero is "in the care" of the owner of a vast banana plantation based in Guihing, Davao del Sur and visits during nighttime his families in Tulunan, North Cotabato and Barangay Kinilis in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Andolana urged the Arroyo administration to put pressure on the military and the PNP to immediately arrest Manero. He also called for the arrest of Julie Yee, Manero’s common-law wife, who allegedly helped Manero escape from the Sarangani jail last week by hiding the latter in the trunk of her car.

Andolana said Yee was also allegedly involved in Manero’s escape from the Davao Penal Colony in 1992, along with high-ranking military officers.

"A colonel was even escorting the latter in Manila when the controversy over his pardon broke out last year," he recalled.

Andolana warned that Manero is very much capable of sowing terror since his group is still intact and that he has enough contacts within the military and police.

He said some of Manero’s former men are now bodyguards of some influential politicians in South Cotabato and North Cotabato while a number of them are already policemen.

He said Manero’s escape threatened anew several residents in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and other areas where the former had previously operated.

Andolana said that former witnesses against Manero and Catholic Church workers in the Diocese of Kidapawan received threats from alleged loyalists of Manero.

"I, myself, received threats (from Manero). But I am ready for it. In fact I no longer fear him since I already got enough of them since the martial law days," he said.