DAVAO CITY – Members of the dreaded Ilaga vigilante movement have threatened to get back at the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who abducted retired M/Sgt. Jose Manero, brother of convicted priest killer Norberto Manero.
The Maneros were known to have been behind the dreaded Ilaga fanatical band that terrorized both the Muslim and communist rebels in Mindanao in the 1970s.
In a text message to The STAR early yesterday morning, a source, who claimed to be a member of the Ilaga group, warned that should the NPA continue to hold Manero captive, they would get back by going after known allies of the communist rebels in Davao City.
“If the NPA will not release Manong Joe, there will really be trouble in Davao. We will also get their allies,” the source said in a text message in the dialect.
Manero was abducted last Sunday morning in Barangay Pangyan, Calinan District here by a band of rebels led by Leonardo Pitao, alias Commander Parago.
Manero was taken along with his employer, Rafael Lorenzo, one of the owners of the Lorenzo Group of Companies, who was immediately released.
In a statement Monday, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesman of the Merardo Arce Command of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Command, said Manero was taken into custody for investigation.