MISAMIS ORIENTAL (MDN Mindanao News, June 9) – A 61-year-old former columnist of Sunstar Davao was arrested Sunday at the Laguindingan International Airport for murder and arson charges.
Joint operatives of the Criminal Investgation and Detection Group Region 9 (CIDG-9), 102nd Brigade and the 53rd Infantry Battalion (53rdIB) arrested Margarita Valle by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Calamba, Misamis Occidental Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36 Judge Bernadette Paredes Encinareal on December 29, 2011 yet and there was no bailbond recommended. The arrest warrant was allegedly for multiple murder and destruction of government property.
Another arrest warrant was also served to Valle for arson, dated September 4, 2006. It was issued by Judge Aniceto Galon, Jr of Pagadian City RTC Branch 20. A bailbond was pegged at P24,000.
The police operatives who arrested Valle said the former journalist was allegedly affiliated with the New People's Army. Buy his son Rius said "Obviously these are all trumped-up charges."
In his Facebook page, Margarita's son Rius said his mother went missing after she was reportedly arrested by police authorities.
Rius said his mother attended a seminar-workshop in Pagadian City. As his mother was about to onboard a plane going back to Davao, she was reportedly arrested.
"Margarita Valle, 61 years old, my mother, was illegally arrested today by members of PNP in Laguindingan Airport for unknown reason. She was set to go home after attending a training-workshop in Pagadian City and about to board a plane to Davao when the arrest happened. We have now lost all communications with her and we don't know her whereabouts," Margarita's son said in his FB page.
Rius said his mother was a former columnist of Sunstar Davao and contributor to Davao Today."
He also asked help from his media friends in Cagayan de Oro. He did not elaborate who were his media friends. "To all my media friends in CDO, please help," he said.
Also in his FB updates, Rius said that a certain Major Napoleon Carpio of CIDG 10 confirmed the arrest but Carpio said it was CIDG 9, based in Zamboanga City, who made the arrest by virtue of two arrest warrants issued by different courts.
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ABOUT JOEL
Joel Calamba Escol is a journalist since 1991, author and all around person. He plays billiards, paints, does some comic illustrations, cartoons and likes watching CNN and AljazeraTV. He is also an SEO expert. When he's not working, you'll find him gaming and watching hard action movies. He's a total sucker of news and current events.
