BACOLOD City – One of the four officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) arrested in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental recently has a pending arrest warrant for murder.
A copy of the warrant issued by Judge Jennifer Chavez-Marcos of Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in Carmen, Bohol showed that Emmylou Cañesares is one of the 14 leaders of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal- Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor accused of murder.
The court did not set bail for Cañesares for the criminal case.
The 38-year-old Cañesares, who was identified by the Philippine Army’s (PA) 15th Infantry Battalion as “Emmylo Cañares,” was arrested with three other suspected rebels in Barangay Magballo on July 10.
A resident of South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu, she is the former finance officer of Bohol Party Committee and the current secretary of the Second National Urban Center Party Committee.
Cañares was arrested with George Buga-ay, 42, a former squad leader and finance logistics officer of the Regional Strike Forces of the Kilusang Rehiyon-Negros (KR-N), now assigned at the KR-N Regional Communication (RCOM), along with Relyn Morino, 22, and Raffy Patajo, 21.
Government security forces seized from the suspects a .45-caliber pistol, .38-caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, four MK2 fragmentation hand grenades, P119,354 cash, and other several other items such as mobile phones.
Major Cenon Pancito III, chief of the PA’s 3rd Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office, said on Wednesday the CPP-NPA should get a good lawyer to represent the four considering that one of them is facing a murder case.
“The warrant has yet to be served because her current arrest was due to different circumstances. This disproves the NPA’s claim that she is not an insurgent,” he added.
The four suspects, who are detained at the Kabankalan City Police Station, have been tagged by the police as CPP-NPA terrorist (CNT) high-value individuals.
Both Cañares and Morino have been charged 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)
