"There are reports reaching us that different groups of five to 10 people show up in some isolated villages dragging someone whose hands are tied and whose face is covered. It is very apparent they are creating diversions," said Chief Superintendent Acmad Omar, ARMM’s police director.
Omar said until now they are still verifying reports that Piarantoni, assistant priest of Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, is indeed being held captive either in Kapatagan or in Sultan Gumander, both coastal towns in the second district of Lanao del Sur.
"There are reports coming in that the priest is there, but our agents have to validate the information yet. What is apparent is that there is a big group behind the abduction of Fr. Piarantoni because they have followers who can create diversions to confuse authorities on the whereabouts of the priest," Omar said.
Omar said their intelligence division at Camp S.K. Pendatun here have fielded more than 20 agents to the towns of Kapatagan, Malabang, Sultan Gumander and Balabagan, to help local leaders find Piarantoni and his captors.
A notorious leader of the Pentagon in Lanao del Sur, Faisal Marohomsar, earlier said Piarantoni is being held captive in a jungle in Pualas, a hinterland town about 20 kilometers away from the shores of Lanao del Sur.
Marohomsar said a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, led by a certain Commander Macaumbao, is holding Piarantoni captive in the area. — John Unson