Vigilante Group Takes Wrong Guy
Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer
(February 12, 2000)
DIGOS, Davao del Sur -- Suspected membersof an anti-drug vigilante group abducted early Wednessday an employee of the education department who was mistaken for a drug suspect.
The victm Romeo Jairal, was released 12 hours after he was abducted when suspected members of the Davao Death Squad realized that they got the wrong person.
Jairal was snatched near the public market at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Jairal said the suspects grabbed him to a waiting Pajero with plate number UTV 571 and brought him to a house in Davao City.
There, he was hogtied and was asked who his drug suppliers were.
Jairal, stressing that he was innocent, told his abductors that he was an employee of the Department of education, Culture and Sports.
The victim said the suspects insisted that he was Jojo Jairal.
"They insisted that I was a shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) pusher but I told them that might be ater another guy. Latr on, I managed to convince them hat I am innocent and I was freed," Jairal said.
At about 9:30 p.m. on the same day, the suspects, apparently convinced that they had the wrong man, told him to board the Pajero. He was then brought the place called the Hilltop in Maa district in Davo City where he managed to hitch a ride back to this town.
Jairal later reported the incident to the police.
Senior Supt. Wilfredo Fuentes, provincial police chief, immediately ordered an investigation ad told the Digos police to coordinate with Land Transportation Office to trace the identity of the vehicle's owner.
Allan A. Nawal,
PDI Mindanao Bureau
