CLARK FREEPORT – Six retired soldiers who were reportedly involved in the Oakwood mutiny in Makati in 2003 were arrested by combined teams of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) at the Eagle’s firing range here last Thursday.
Angeles police chief Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsit said the PAOCTF operatives turned over to his command at Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles City the six retired soldiers at about 7 p.m.
He cited information that the six, who remained in the camp and were not allowed to be reached by media as of yesterday afternoon, were allegedly among those who had joined the Oakwood mutiny.
Bucsit declined to identify the six.
One New Zealand national identified as Arthur Joseph Newman was also reportedly nabbed by agents of the Bureau of Immigration at the Eagle’s firing range at the same time, but it is not clear whether he knew the soldiers.
Immigration personnel here said, however, that the foreigner, who was brought to Manila, had an expired passport.
Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz also confirmed that the six retired soldiers, who used to be with the Philippine Navy, were being held amid reports they were among the Oakwood mutineers.
Bucsit said he could legally detain them for 36 hours, as he noted that his command here had nothing to do with the arrests.
“All the evidences seem to be in the hands of the PAOCTF and we are waiting for their probers here (at Camp Pepito),” he said. Mediamen were barred from entering the camp following the arrest of the six.
Representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)were, however, allowed by Bucsit to interview the six.
De la Cruz said the six ex-soldiers were undergoing training at the firing range when they were arrested.
Angeles police chief Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsit said the PAOCTF operatives turned over to his command at Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles City the six retired soldiers at about 7 p.m.
He cited information that the six, who remained in the camp and were not allowed to be reached by media as of yesterday afternoon, were allegedly among those who had joined the Oakwood mutiny.
Bucsit declined to identify the six.
One New Zealand national identified as Arthur Joseph Newman was also reportedly nabbed by agents of the Bureau of Immigration at the Eagle’s firing range at the same time, but it is not clear whether he knew the soldiers.
Immigration personnel here said, however, that the foreigner, who was brought to Manila, had an expired passport.
Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz also confirmed that the six retired soldiers, who used to be with the Philippine Navy, were being held amid reports they were among the Oakwood mutineers.
Bucsit said he could legally detain them for 36 hours, as he noted that his command here had nothing to do with the arrests.
“All the evidences seem to be in the hands of the PAOCTF and we are waiting for their probers here (at Camp Pepito),” he said. Mediamen were barred from entering the camp following the arrest of the six.
Representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)were, however, allowed by Bucsit to interview the six.
De la Cruz said the six ex-soldiers were undergoing training at the firing range when they were arrested.
