Bulacan mayor’s political leader abducted

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Bulacan — Six ski mask-wearing armed men abducted a barangay chairman here, a political leader of Mayor Eduardo Roquero, inside his home shortly before midnight last March 7.

Police have yet to establish the motive behind the abduction of Barangay San Isidro chairman Lope Oliveros.

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, intelligence and investigation chief of the Bulacan police, however, has ruled out politics, saying that a conflict over the development of a lot in the barangay could be behind Oliveros’ disappearance.

Oliveros is a staunch political leader of Roquero, who is running for congressman in the lone congressional district of San Jose del Monte.

Reports reaching Camp Olivas, the Central Luzon police headquarters, said a suspect, a certain Carion Sayritan, has been arrested while three other men have been invited for questioning.

Oliveros’ wife, Sonia, said the kidnappers barged into their home during a brownout. Their eldest son, Marlon, resisted but was punched in the face, after which he, along with all members of the family, was tied up.

Oliveros has reportedly received several death threats since October 2002, some of which he has entered in the local police blotter.

Oliveros has had suspicions that the death threats had something to do with illegal activities like squatting, unauthorized cutting of trees and quarrying that he had opposed in his barangay.

Probers were also reportedly looking into a possible connection with the discovery of a marijuana plantation on a hillside and the seizure of 17 kilos of dried marijuana leaves a year ago.

Another barangay chairman was kidnapped a year ago but was released in less than 24 hours. — James Mananghaya, Ric Sapnu