P5-M offered for arrest of Palawan NPA leader

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A P5million reward has been offered for the arrest of the top leader of the communist-terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Palawan province.

The reward was put up for the arrest of Vincent Lozada Libuna, alias Ka Allan Libuna, Ka Allan Lozada, and Ka Peter, said Lieutenant Colonel Darwin de Luna, the commanding officer of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 and the Joint Task Group South on Friday morning.

De Luna made the announcement during a “pulong-pulong” (community meeting) they had with the Pala’wan indigenous peoples in Sitio Guimpo in Barangay Samariñana, Brooke’s Point last Wednesday.

“The amount is from the office of President Rodrigo Duterte. If there’s anyone who can bring Ka Allan to us, dead or alive, there is a P5-million reward,” he said.

Libuna has been linked to the December 7, 2017 murder of rebel returnee Jun-Jun Gatosan Lacaran in Sitio Cabangaan, Samariñana.

Investigation into Lacaran’s death reportedly pointed to Ka Allan as the one who ordered his slaying.

“Let us cooperate with authorities. If you see anyone acting suspiciously who entered your places, let us know. Let your authorities know for them to help keep the peace and order situation,” de Luna said.

He said that during the community meeting, held to rally residents to fight communism, some six Palawan indigenous people related how NPA rebels recruited them.

They said they were first recruited to the “Militia ng Bayan” to become assets and lookouts against the police and military, and as errand runners whenever NPA rebels need food and other supplies in the mountains of southern Palawan.

One of the assets is an 18-year-old Pala’wan who has been made to monitor if NPA enemies are on their way.

“This is how they are recruited first -- layer by layer before they are trained to become fighters,” de Luna said.

The community meeting was held under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Community Support Program.