Paje thanks Duterte for release of kidnapped surveyors

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Ramon Paje thanked Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday for negotiating the release of five contractors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who had been abducted by armed men on Friday.

“In behalf of the DENR, our sincerest thanks to Mayor Duterte for his help in freeing the Skyeye personnel without any condition,” Paje said in a news release.

The victims were abducted by armed men on Friday in Maco, Compostela Valley.

The communist New People’s Army claimed responsibility for the abduction of the contractors, accusing them of conducting aerial reconnaissance on their territory using a drone.

NPA ComVal-Davao subregional command spokesman Daniel Ibarra was quoted as saying the men were captured for bringing in “surveillance gadgets” and undertaking reconnaissance on NPA bases.

Four of the five victims were employees of Skyeye, a contractor of DENR conducting an audit of the National Greening Program (NGP) plantations using unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, Paje said.

He identified the Skyeye employees as Kendrick Wong, Chris Favila, Tim Sabino and Nico Lasaca.  The fifth one, Jonas Loredo, is the driver of the van rented by the group in going to the area.

Paje stressed that the agency has been using  state-of-art technology for no other reason than to ensure transparency in NGP.

“Using this technology will prevent the occurrence of ghost sites/projects and ensure that investment of government will be protected.  It will also ensure accountability of DENR officials on the field,” Paje said.

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