ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) is calling on Ma. Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala, a top-raking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay Island, to surrender now.
“Matanda na sia. Dapat sa kanya mag-surrender na at magpahinga,” said Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander.
Bocala was believed not among the 16 rebels killed in the airstrike in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo on Dec. 1.
Bocala, of the country’s most wanted rebels, has a bounty of P4.8 million along with her husband Reynaldo who died in a shootout with policemen on May 28 this year at Providence Subdivision, Pavia, Iloilo.
Bocala, now in her 70s, used to be the highest ranking NPA leader in Panay Island prior to her arrest in 2015.
She was also the Visayas-based consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) which had been negotiating peace with the government.
“Patuloy tayo maghanap sa kanya. She better surrender rather than mamatay sia sa giyera,” added Arevalo.
Bocala was arrested by combined forces of the military and police on Aug. 1, 2015 at a safe house in Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City. She was temporarily released from detention in 2016 to participate in the peace talks between the CPP and the national government in Norway.
After President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the negotiations 2017, Bocala sought the help of comrades to hide.
Meanwhile, Concha’s husband was killed in a police operation with his aide Willy Epago.
Before his death, Reynaldo had several positions in the NPA in Panay Island. He was the former deputy secretary of the NPA Southern Front Committee, chief of the NPA regional operational department, and finance officer.
He was one of the country’s most wanted persons with several warrants for various criminal cases in Panay Island to include murder, destructive arson, robbery in band with frustrated homicide, and robbery with serious physical injuries./PN
