
POLICE Regional Office 11 director Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. yesterday denied reports of a missing peace consultant in the region.
Silo earlier ordered a regionwide verification on the statement of reelectionist Senator Leila de Lima last Monday on the alleged report of a missing peace consultant allegedly abducted in Davao del Norte this month.
Ezequiel Daguman and his companion went missing on March 7 while going to a community in New Corella, Davao Del Norte.The PRO 11 top cop immediately instructed Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office Director Col. Antonio Alberio Jr. to direct all chiefs of police in his area, especially the New Corella police, to validate the report. Upon verification the report turned out to be negative.
The official confirmed that on March 28, the Commission of Human Rights 11 visited the New Corella police to conduct an investigation on the report.
Based on the police blotter and other available documents, there was no recorded missing persons in New Corella, Davao Del Norte from March 1 to 28 this year.
Further coordination with the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army led to the information that Ezequil Cortez Daguman alias “Rey/Ry” was killed in an encounter with members of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Bgy. Tupaz, Maragusan, Davao de Oro on March 27.
Recovered at the clash site were high-powered firearms.
Authorities said Ezequil was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee and Deputy Secretary of Regional Operations Command of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Silo added that Ezequiel had a string of warrant of arrests, including kidnapping and serious illegal detention, double murder, robbery with violence, serious illegal detention, and murder issued by the 11th and 12th Judicial Region Branches 10,11, 14, 23 and 30.