Sketches out; manhunt on for Otaza, son killers
BUTUAN CITY – Authorities here have released the facial composite sketches of two of the suspects in the abduction and murder of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son, Daryl whose bodies were found at a far-flung barangay in this city.
They described one of the suspects as having a thin face and bearing an eye defect while the other was more on the heavy side, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) which released the sketches.
This developed as the AFP’s command deployed more troops to beef up troops which are currently conducting pursuit operations in Agusan del Sur on the suspects, who are said to number 18 in all.
The command and action center of the Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division also ordered Col. Alexander L. Macario, commanding officer of the 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade to utilize all available combat troops and war earth-moving equipments in the pursuit operations against the group of New People’s Army (NPA) bandits.
Two helicopter gunships of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) tactical operations group (TOG) strike wing have also been placed on alert at Camp Bancasi here ready to extend air cover to the pursuing ground troops.
“The 4th ID will intensify the operations to go after the perpetrators of this cowardly attack and at the same time ensure that Lumad tribesmen loyal to Mayor Otaza will not conduct revenge killings as the attack could trigger a new wave of violence among Lumad factions,” said Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the northeastern and northern Mindanao 4th ID.
“This is unfortunate because the AFP, PNP and our local government units (LGUs) have been working hard to deescalate the situation,” he added.