Priest-killer Manero under surveilance in Davao City

Police on watch vs. Manero henchmen

By ROGER M. BALANZA

The Davao City Police Office is on tight watch for armed men that convicted priest-killer Norberto Manero vowed would hunt down New People’s Army rebels who snatched his brother Sunday in Davao City.

We are monitoring the situation, said police chief Jayme Morente yesterday as Manero called on the communist rebels to free his brother or he would send his men to abduct their relatives and sympathizers of the leftist movement..

This developed as Calinan Police precinct chief Dionisio Abude said retired Army MSgt. Jose Manero could be in trouble after questioning banana planter Rafael Lorenzo, for whom the soldier acted as security officer.

Communist rebels snatched Lorenzo, Manero and three farm managers from the Lapanday Group of Companies banana farm in Calinan, after emptying the armory of the banana company.

The rebels, said to be led by Leonardo Pitao alias Kumander Parago, would later release the hostages but brought with them the brother of the Manero, who had served sentence for the 1986 murder of Father Tulio Favali in Tulonan, North Cotabato.

Abude said the NPA might bring the retired soldier in a trial in a rebel court for his “sins” against the communist movement, to explain why he was not released.

At last we met, Parago reportedly told the retired soldier, quoting Lorenzo during an interview with police investigators shortly after the release of Lorenzo and the farm managers.

Abude said Parago told Lorenzo they are not releasing Manero to answer for the killing of NPA commander Ka Lambo.

Norberto Manero also known as Kumander Bucay, and his brother Jose, were the prime movers in the 80s of the civilian anti-communist movement in North Cotabato in the 80s.

Military officials in the Davao Region said troopers have been sent to track down Kumander Parago and his rebel band,

Morente said he ordered the monitoring for Manero’s henchmen following reports the convicted priest-killer would sow terror in Davao City is his brother is not freed by the rebels.

“If the NPAs will not release my brother Jose, we will get their allies and Davao City would be in shambles,” said Manero.