NPA rebels nabbed at Davao del Norte checkpoint

DAVAO CITY – A high- ranking leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and his aide were captured by joint forces of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Davao region (CIDG-11) Tuesday morning in Madaum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

In a statement to the media here, 10th ID chief information officer Capt. Rhyan Batchar identified the ranking leader as Ariel Arbitrario, alias Marlon, who is the front secretary of guerrilla front 2 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines ( CPP)- NPA operating in the areas of Davao del Norte and the nearby provinces.

Arrested with Arbitrario was Crispolo Arbitrario alias Calvin and a member of Special Operations Group ( SOG) of sub- regional committee 2 (SRC-2) of SMRC.

Batchar said that the two NPA members were arrested on the strength of warrants of arrest for murder that were issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 in Nabunturan town, Compostela Valley province.

Both rebels were arrested at a checkpoint during the operations conducted by the military and the police, Batchar added.

Recovered from their possession were caliber-. 45 and .38 pistols, a fragmentation grenade, an improvised grenade, and a handheld radio.

Batchar also told reporters here that Arbitrario was the mastermind behind the atrocities waged by the NPAs in the towns of Maco, Mabini and Pantukan in Compostela Valley province.

Arbitrario, on the other hand, was an NPA-SOG member who was also involved in the killings in the same areas.

10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia commended the joint Army and police forces for the capture of the two NPA rebels.

“The arrest of these ranking NPAs manifest that the long arm of the law will ultimately catch up with these outlaws to face justice,” Valencia said.

The arrested NPAs were immediately brought to the Davao del Norte CIDG office for documentation and the filing of criminal cases on violation of election gun ban and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.