Last Seen:

February 18, 2006

Nueva Ecija
Leonardo Parungao, along with Pepito Campus both youth activists, was reported abducted at gunpoint at a checkpoint manned by four armed men wearing sleeve sweatshirts with printed police at Brgy. Luyos/Brgy. Buliran, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.  On the 18th of February 2006 at around 2pm, they were riding in their barangay service vehicle together with Elizabeth Parungao, a community youth leader, and ten (10) other student youths who are residents of Brgy. Bagong Sikat, Cabiao.  When the group reaches (between) Brgy. Lulos and Buliran (near the garbage dumpsite) in Antonio, Nueva Ecija: Suddenly four (4) armed men wearing sleeved sweatshirts printed with "Police" stopped them.  The armed men held them for inspection as they were conducting checkpoints in the area. When the vehicle pulled over, they then ordered Campus and Parungao to step outside the vehicle.  According to the students, one of the armed men stepped on Parungao's head, tied his hands behind his back, and forced him into a maroon van that had no license plate. The getaway van headed towards Barangay Marawa, Jaen, and La Paz, Tarlac. The victim's whereabouts remain unknown.  According to Elizabeth and her companions, they had just come from the town of Jaen, Nueva Ecija, when the incident happened. They immediately informed the victim's families, who then reported this to the police in San Antonio.  The police, however, denied having set up a checkpoint and deploying policemen and instead said that soldiers are frequently patrolling in the said place.

details about their circumstances.