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November 8, 2005
Philippines: Mistaken for Islamist, One-Armed Man May Sue
We earlier brought you the tale of an unfortunate villager from the Zamboanga Sibugay province on Mindanao in the Philippines, who was mistaken for a leading Abu Sayyaf terrorist, and was arrested and detained, proclaimed to the world as the Islamist kidnapper, Radulan Sahiron.
Now it appears that the villager, who like Sahiron has only one arm, may be suing, according to the Manila Times. Antonio Gara was taken from Kitabog village near Titay town on Sunday.
The Philippines National Police spokesperson, Leopoldo Bataoli, made an apology for the mistaken identity cock-up, but Aquilino Pimentel Jr, the Senate minority leader, blamed President Arroyo for the gaffe and said an apology was not enough. Pimentel is trying to exploit the situation politically, for he says that only the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (who publicly announced the capture of "Sahiron") should suffice. Arroyo was only repeating what she had been told by security services, so her resignation does not seem fair nor appropriate.
Gara's wife Aida said that her husband was snatched by three men and taken away in a police van. Antonio Gara says he was blindfolded, slapped across the head, and had his hands (?) tied, though with only a right arm, that seems rather difficult. He lost his left arm in an accident years ago, his wife said.
The miliary have now said that the real Abu Sayyaf villain is hiding on the island of Jolo, not Titay town. Apparently the real Sahiron is known to locals as "Robin Hood". He rides on a horse and often distributes parts of his loot to civilian supporters in Jolo. As well as being responsible for about 21 kidnappings, Sahiron is said to have decapitated soldiers and also civilians accused of collaboration with the military's anti-insurgency campaign on the island.
Antonio Gara yesterday demanded an apology from senior officials, claiming that his rights had been violated, and threatened to sue.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 8, 2005 4:24 PM
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