Top Left leaders collared in Negros
All four were arrested by the arresting team last Friday, 10 July, according to the 3ID report released Tuesday
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division dealt communist insurgents in Negros Occidental another huge blow as its joint law enforcement operation with local police forces resulted in the arrest of four high-ranking Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) leaders operating in the area.
Together with the Joint Task Force Spear, Kabankalan City Police Station, and other AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) units situated in Kabankalan City, security forces successfully collared the suspects — Emmylo Cañares alias “Sid/Cat/Drey,” current Secretary of the CPP’s 2nd National Urban Party Committee; George Buga-ay alias “Alexa/Samantha,” Regional Communications Officer of the CPP-NPA operating in Negros, Cebu, Bohol and
Siquijor; Relyn Morino alias “Sam.” Regional Communications Staff of the CPP-NPA; and Raffy Patajo alias “Paulo,” a Finance Logistics Officer of an NPA unit in southwestern Negros.
All four were arrested by the arresting team last Friday, 10 July, according to the 3ID report released Tuesday.
“The intensified law enforcement and combat operations being conducted jointly by your AFP and
PNP units in Western and Central Visayas are an essential part in our government’s campaign to once and for all end the violence and terrorism being perpetrated by the CPP-NPA in this part of the country,” Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3ID commander, said.
Recovered from their possession were one .45 caliber pistol, one .38 caliber revolver loaded with five ammunitions, four hand grenades, cash amounting to P119,354.00, subversive documents, and personal belongings.
The suspects are now facing charges for violations of
Republic Act (RA) 10159, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions, and RA 9516 for illegal possession of explosives.
Meanwhile, Vinoya also led the meeting of the Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support Cluster of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Western and Central Visayas met earlier this week with stakeholders to discuss ways the government and other sectors can strengthen the efforts in ending insurgency in the said regions.