Abducted Youth Leader under NOLCOM Custody

BY ABNER BOLOS

Gitnang Luson News Service

Posted 10:00 p.m., Apr. 9, 2006

TARLAC CITY — Ronald Intal, the youth leader in Hacienda Luisita who was abducted allegedly by government troops and has been missing since April 3 may be alive and in the custody of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM).

Gonzalo Intal, 79, father of the missing youth told GLNS that his family sought the assistance of Tarlac City vice mayor Teresita Cabal who informed them that his son was being held by NOLCOM personnel and may be released once Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan gives the go-signal.

"Ayaw pa siyang pakawalan ni Gen. Palparan dahil hindi pa daw tapos ang appointment niya (Gen. Palparan will not release him yet because his appointment is not yet over), the elder Intal quoted Cabal as saying.

Gonzalo and his wife Lourdes talked with Cabal last April 8 to seek help in finding his son who has been missing after he was allegedly abducted by soldiers in Barangay Balete at noon on April 3.

Witnesses said Intal was brought to the Aqua Farm, a former fish breeding station in Barangay Balete now being used as headquarters of soldiers belonging to the 70th IB, 7th ID headed by Major Gen. Jovito Palparan.

Intal, 24, a resident of Barangay Asturias, Tarlac City is a leader of the Samahan ng mga Kabataang Demokratiko sa Asyenda Luisita (SAKDAL or Association of Democratic Youth in Hacienda Luisita) and the Anak ng Bayan (Sons and Daughters of the People) party in the strife-torn sugar estate owned by the family of former president Corazon Cijuangco-Aquino.

Intal's relatives said soldiers at the Aqua Farm have denied taking him into custody and their attempts to locate him brought no results until they sought the assistance of the city vice mayor.

The elder Intal said Cabal will try to present witnesses to NOLCOM officials and persuade Gen. Palparan to release his son.  GLNS/Bulatlat 

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