ILOILO – A suspected high-ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay Island was killed in a shootout with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Western Visayas (CIDGWV) at Providence Subdivision in Barangay Balabag, Pavia.
Reynaldo Bocala and his companion, a certain Ramon, died on the spot on Friday night.
The CIDG personnel were supposed to serve four arrest warrants against Bocala in a rented house but the latter and his companion opened fire at the cops after realizing that the house was already surrounded by policemen.
Bocala, also known as Bading, was the husband of Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta, an at-large peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines whom the national government recently tagged a terrorist.
According to CIDG-6 director, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., the shootout happened around 8 p.m.
“We introduced ourselves as members of the PNP (Philippine National Police), but they immediately hid and shot us… wala kaming magawa but to fire back. Nagkaputukan na,” Balmaceda told the press.
Balmaceda said the two men were armed with two .45-caliber pistols. Subversive documents, empty shells of firearm and assorted cell phones were recovered in the house.
Bocala was alleged to have occupied several positions in the CPP-NPA such as: Finance Officer of Kilusang Rehiyon Panay; former Deputy Secretary of Southern Front Committee (SFC); Panay Regional Party Committee (PRPC); former secretary of SFC, PRPC; former head, Regional Operational Department, PRPC; and was the former Secretary of PRPC in 2001.
According to the police, Bocala was accused of:
* robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property with the use of motor vehicle and unlicensed firearms (docketed under Criminal Case No. 2627-Tu) issued by Judge Susan Medina-Alcantara of the Municipal Circuit trial Court (MCTC) in Guimbal, Iloilo on July 12, 2004; P200,000 bail bond was recommended
* robbery with serious physical injuries (docketed under Criminal Case No. 1337) issued by Judge Teodulo A. Colada of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 67 in Guimbal, Iloilo on Feb. 4, 2005; P180,000 bail bond was recommended.
* violation of Presidential Decree 1744 (Destructive Arson) as amended by Republic Act 7659 (docketed under Criminal Case No. 1373) issued by Judge Teodulo Colada of RTC Branch 67 in Guimbal, Iloilo on Feb. 21, 2005; court has denied bail
* murder (docketed under Criminal Case No.1238-H) issued by Judge Ma. Monina Misajon of MCTC in the province of Antique on April 16, 1990; court has denied bail
“We tried to serve his arrest warrants, but he and his companion fought back,” said Iloilo Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero.
Bocala was reportedly renting the house for several months already./PN
