BACOLOD City – A top official of the Philippine Army (PA) considered the arrest of four suspected rebels in this province as a “huge blow” to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) and the Armed Forces’ Joint Task Force Spear in Western and Central Visayas, said Tuesday the successful law enforcement operation was an essential part of the government campaign to end the violence and terrorism perpetrated by the NPA.
Arrested by joint military and police troops in Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City on July 10 were Emmylou Cañares, 38, a resident of South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu; George Buga-ay, 42, of Barangay Punta Taytay here; Relyn Morino, 22, a resident of Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City; and Raffy Patajo, 21, of Sitio Montelo, Barangay Pinggot, Ilog.
The four suspected rebels yielded a .45-caliber pistol, .38-caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, four hand grenades, several mobile phones, USB flash drives, and cash amounting to P119,354, among others.
According to the PA, Cañares is the current secretary of the Second National Urban Center Party Committee while Buga-ay, a former squad leader and finance logistics officer of the Regional Strike Forces of the Kilusang Rehiyon-Negros (KR-N), is now with the KR-N Regional Communication along with Morino and Patajo.
In a statement, NPA Apolinario Gatmaitan Command spokesman Juanito Magbanua denied the four are CPP-NPA officials.
Major Cenon Pancito III, chief of 3ID’s Public Affairs Office, said he was not surprised by Magbanua’s denial since the communist-terrorists are masters at making excuses.
“If indeed, they believe that these people are not their allies, then they should condemn them for violating the laws and for terrorizing the people,” he added.
Pancito said now that the CPP-NPA is “crippled by the series of combined operations against their group, they know what this government can do to paralyze their movement.”
Cañares and Morino are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and RA 9516, or the Illegal Possession of Explosives while Buga-ay for RA 10591 and Patajo for RA 9516. (With a report from PNA/PN)
