‘Ka Jinggoy’ turned over to Davao police
DAVAO CITY – The New People’s Army (NPA) commander, who was captured by authorities while he was recuperating in a hospital for a head injury, has been turned over to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and is set to face at least 12 charges of murder and arson.
The DCPO received custody of Elizalde Cañete, also known as Ka Jinggoy, after he was able to recover from a head injury while on hospital arrest in Bukidnon.
He was wounded in an encounter with the military last May 12 and had to be hospitalized for a head wound. But two days later, authorities caught up with him and arrested him in the hospital.
Cañete is said to be the new leader of the NPA in the region, replacing Leoncio “Ka Parago” Pitao as head of the Pulang Bagani Company. Pitao was killed in an encounter with authorities in Barangay Pañalum, Paquibato District here last June 28, 2015.
The NPA has demanded for Cañete's release, saying that the leader could be considered as a “hors de combat,” or out of action because of an injury, thereby, protecting him from arrest under international humanitarian laws.
But in an earlier interview, Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey told The Manila Bulletin that the military adhered to all international humanitarian laws in the arrest and maintaining custody of prisoners of war.
Police said Cañete will be facing at least 12 cases in Davao City, where most of the cases against the rebel leader were filed.
Cañete reportedly led a band of NPA raiders who attacked a banana packing plant in Barangay Tigatto here last year.
A 31-year-old fish vendor, Larry Buenafe, was killed after a shrapnel of a command-detonated improvised explosive device hit him.
A Task Force Davao Simba Tank provided reinforcement to troops trying to repel the attack in May 2017. The NPA, meanwhile, anticipated the Simba attack and planted a command-detonated improvised explosive device that disabled it.