The families of farmers allegedly abducted by soldiers of the 61 st Infantry Battalion are calling for their release, but the army said the victims are no longer in their custody.

Lt. Col. Rey Basco, 61 st IB commander, said farmers Flaviano Arante, 60, and Reynold Yanoc, 18, both of Sitio Bantolinao, Brgy. Talalac, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, have been released to their families.

Basco said the army brought Arante and Yanoc to their detachment in Sitio Cabcabon, Brgy. Banga, Bayawan City for an investigation on an encounter that took place in Sta. Catalina.

Rosalia Yanoc, mother of Reynold, said her son was picked up by soldiers in December last year. Carmen Arante, wife of Flaviano, said her husband was abducted by the military in January this year.

Their appeal for the release of their kin was aired at a press conference recently sponsored by the Promotion of Church People's Response at Silliman University , Dumaguete.

Rosalia and Carmen said that since the army took custody of the victims, they have been trying to visit them at the army detachment, but soldiers prohibited them from seeing the detainees.

They also claimed that they saw Reynold and Flaviano accompany the army in their operations in the hinterland barangays of Sta. Catalina.

Meanwhile, Rosalia said no encounter took place on January 28. It was the soldiers who were having breakfast at their house who shot to death an unidentified person walking towards their home.

She added that no squad of the New People's Army went to their place.

Basco, however, said that an encounter happened. This can be evidenced by a complaint brought to them by the local government unit of Sta. Catalina.

Basco added that cause-oriented groups could be behind the statement of the families of the alleged abducted persons.*RG

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