Free 2 men, Central Luzon group urges rebels

MASINLOC, Zambales — A human rights group appealed yesterday to the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan (RHB), a breakaway communist group, to release two men it abducted here last July 24 for their alleged "blood debts."

In a statement, the group Karapatan-Central Luzon condemned the "unwarranted abduction" of Albertino Centino, 28, of Barangay Tambao, Dinalupihan, Bataan; and Dante Carpio, 43, of Barangay Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. The RHB has admitted seizing the two men.

Carpio’s wife Paz, who sought the help of Karapatan-CL, said two persons, who introduced themselves as RHB members, came to her store in Bagong Silang last July 29 and told her that their group had seized her husband and Centino in San Lorenzo here.

The alleged RHB members claimed that Centino and Carpio were being held captive for their "blood debts." They did not give details.

"Our independent inquiry revealed that Centino and Carpio are ordinary citizens who came to Masinloc to find work and that they have not committed any wrongdoing against anybody, let alone the RHB," Karapatan-CL said.

The RHB is the military arm of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines which broke away from the Communist Party of the Philippines.

In Mexico, Pampanga, the RHB has killed several people since last December, suspecting them of being New People’s Army members responsible for the killing of RHB leader Bartolome Quizon there early last year.