ILOILO City – The arrest of Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta Bocala is a priority, according to the Criminal Investigation ad Detection Group (CIDG).
Bocala, suspected secretary general of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P) of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was recently convicted by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 266 in Taguig City for the death 47 years ago of Metudio Inesa in Barangay Panipiason, Madalag, Aklan.
CIDG Region 6 director, Colonel Joseph Ian Lofranco said Bocala is still in Panay Island.
Inesa was killed by a group of NPA rebels on Sept. 17, 1975. He was seen by NPA spies to have welcomed Philippine Constabulary personnel at his house and provided them with a temporary resting place and drinking water, according to the court.
Citing intelligence information, Lofranco said Bocala is ill.
Bocala was arrested on Aug. 15, 2015. In 2016, however, she was released on bail so she can take part in the peace talks between the government and the CPP-NPA.
When the peace talks were terminated, however, Bocala did not voluntarily return to the custody of the court.
“Dami nating information na natatanggap (about her whereabouts). We need to countercheck. We believe hindi sya lalayo dito kasi nagpapagamot daw. May nag-aalaga sa kanya and we need the public’s help,” Lofranco said.
Bocala, 71, has a bounty of P5.3 million.
“The court finds that the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of murder,” read part of the 16-page decision of Presiding Judge Marivic C. Vitor dated June 21, 2022.
The judge sentenced Bocala to suffer reclusion perpetua and was also ordered to pay the heirs of the victim a total of P300,000 as civil indemnity, moral and exemplary damages./PN
