Tuesday, December 2, 2008

PNOC inspectors held by armed men

BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor

BUTUAN CITY—Armed robbers held a team of Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) surveyors who arrived to inspect its coal mining project in Tago, Surigao del Sur last Friday, Caraga Police Regional Office said.

The police report said ten unidentified armed men clad in fatigue uniforms approached the PNOC surveying team headed by certain Engr William Toca Mirabel, questioned the inspectors and confiscated their survey equipment.

The other members of the survey team were identified as Jaime Orillaneda; Michael Consigna; Dodoy Aboa and Glen Aboa, all residents of Tandang Sora, Quezon City

Surigao del Sur police in their official report to the Caraga Police Regional Office claimed the said surveyors were released unharmed

Joint military and police operatives are now conducting manhunt operations against the suspects.

As of press time, no report is yet received on the estimated cost of the expensive surveying equipment confiscated by the armed men.

Some of the surveyors complained to police investigators later that the suspects also took their personal belongings.

Authorities suspect the New People’s Army did it.