[In the news] AFP: Dumagat teen not kidnapped – www.philstar.com

AFP: Dumagat teen not kidnapped By Alexis Romero The Philippine Star MANILA, Philippines – The military yesterday clarified that the Dumagat teenager who was reported to have been kidnapped in Quezon province by soldiers merely availed himself of the government’s social integration program. Col. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, said Demer…

Human Rights Online Philippines

September 12, 2011

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Asia, Human Right, In the News, Manila, New People’s Army, Philippine, Philippine Star, Quezon

AFP: Dumagat teen not kidnapped
By Alexis Romero The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – The military yesterday clarified that the Dumagat teenager who was reported to have been kidnapped in Quezon province by soldiers merely availed himself of the government’s social integration program.

Col. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, said Demer Morada, who allegedly went missing last Aug. 29, has returned home and is not under military custody.

Baladad said Morada learned about the local integration program from his former comrades in the New People’s Army (NPA).

“He (Morada) used to be with the NPA… He learned about the local integration program when our soldiers were in the area. He wanted to avail himself of it. He got help in processing his papers,” Baladad said.

“He was not abducted or something… he is not missing,” he added.

Earlier, Fr. Pete Montallana, a Franciscan missionary, sought the help of the public in finding Morada, who he alleged was kidnapped in Quezon.

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