Army man linked to Aurora radioman’s abduction welcomes probe

MARIA AURORA, Aurora — The chief of the Army’s 48th Battalion stationed in this town, who is linked to the abduction of a radio commentator in Baler last Friday, has welcomed the probe on the incident.

Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala, battalion commander of the 48th IB based in Barangay Wenceslao here, said any investigation on the abduction of Joey Estriber would be most welcome.

"I don’t think my men will do it. And I won’t tolerate it. Our conscience is clear," he told The STAR by phone. He said he sent his own spokesman to call on all Aurorans to help in the investigation by sending a text message to the 48th IB or to the police if they have any information on a maroon van supposed to have been used in the abduction.

Estriber, 37, anchorman of the "Pagusapan Natin" program on dzJO, was snatched at around 6:20 p.m. on Friday in an Internet café along Burgos St. in Baler.

Estriber is also secretary of the Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) and a member of the Bataris formation center both based in Baler.

According to witnesses, Estriber resisted as four men dragged him towards a heavily tinted and unlicensed maroon Besta van.

As of press time, there were no reports on Estriber’s whereabouts.

A two-page fact sheet distributed to the local media in Baler by the Justice for Peace and Action group (JPAG) accused Kakilala and his men of involvement in Estriber’s abduction.

Estriber has reportedly been highly critical of alleged abuses committed by the military. A few weeks before his abduction, he lambasted an Army official who admitted that all people’s organizations (POs) and non government organizations (NGOs) are in the military’s Order of Battle list.

Recently, four soldiers allegedly tried to force their way in a forum where Estriber was guest speaker.

Last December, the Bataris building was burned down and two of its personnel were almost abducted.

Kakilala’s superior, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commanding general of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Palayan City which holds jurisdiction over the 48th IB, also defended Kakilala.

"If Col. Kakilala denies that, I will also deny that," said Palparan, who is also facing a string charges for alleged human rights violations.

But Palparan also welcomes any investigation but he said this should emanate from the Philippine National Police (PNP). "I don’t think we will conduct the investigation. But we will cooperate and the police should initiate it," he said.

Police Superintendent Teodoro Saclolo, Aurora provincial police director, said he has created a team to track down the perpetrators of Estriber’s abduction.