‘High-ranking NPA leader’ arrested in Santander

Suspect Rustico “Paking” Tan was wanted in connection with 14 cases, which included multiple murder and frustrated murder, and was said to be an official of the Western Visayas command of the New People’s Army.

A police and military team caught up with him in Santander town in southern Cebu.

An alleged high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was caught in Barangay Pasil, Santander last Thursday night.

The suspect was identified as Rustico “Paking” Tan, who is facing multiple murder, frustrated and attempted murder cases, said Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) Chief Joie Yape Jr.

Tan is the alleged vice commanding officer of NPA’s Western Visayas operations command, which operates in Negros Island.

The police and military personnel served the 14 warrants of arrest for multiple murder, three for frustrated murder and attempted murder.

These arrest warrants were issued by Bohol Regional Trial Court Branch 47 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Before the arrest, PIB received information about Tan’s presence from Military Intelligence Group (MIG) 7.

Police and military personnel went to Oslob, but Tan had escaped to Santander after authorities were deceived by the suspect’s alleged underlings Lopito Paguegbao and Eddie Cumahig Cullamat.

Cullamat and Paguegbao later divulged Tan’s hideout, which is the house of Tan’s late brother in Pasil.

The operatives went to the house and caught the suspect. A laptop, five cell phones and “subversive” documents were seized from Tan.

Paguegbao and Cullamat, who hail from Surigao del Sur, were taken to MIG 7 office.