ILOILO City – The death of a high-ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay Island was a huge blow to the insurgents, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“Malaking kawalan sa kilusan ang pagkawala ni (Reynaldo) Bocala. It will impede their operation because he was the one managing their finances,” said Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police director.
Bocala and his aide, Willy “Ramon” Epago were killed at Providence Subdivision, Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo on Friday, May 28, around 8 p.m.
Police said the two men fired at cops and soldiers who were supposed to serve them arrest warrants, so they were shot.
Bocala, peace negotiations consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), had a P4.8 million bounty.
He was alleged to have occupied several positions in the CPP-NPA such as finance officer of Kilusang Rehiyon Panay; former deputy secretary of the Southern Front Committee (SFC), Panay Regional Party Committee (PRPC); former secretary of SFC, PRPC; and former head, Regional Operational Department, PRPC.
He had a string of cases in various courts. These were the following:
* robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property with the use of motor vehicle and unlicensed firearms (Criminal Case No. 2627-Tu) – arrest warrant 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 (Criminal Case No. 1337) – arrest warrant 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 (Criminal Case No. 1373) – arrest warrant issued by Judge Colada on Feb. 21, 2005; no bail recommended
* murder (Criminal Case No.1238-H) – arrest warrant issued by Judge Ma. Monina Misajon of MCTC in the province of Antique on April 16, 1990; no bail recommended
The PRO-6 Intelligence Division described Bocala as very elusive. Five previous operations against him failed.
Friday night last week, one police operative was hit in the abdomen in the shootout, according to the PRO-6. Fortunately, the cop was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Police reported having recovered two .45 pistols, subversive documents, spent bullet shells, identification cards and cellular phones from the house that Bocala and Epago were renting.
Miranda said the operation was a collaborative effort of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spearheaded by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He again appealed to active CPP-NPA members to surrender.
“Wala kayong mapapala diyan sa CPP-NPA. Mas nanaisin pa namin na sumurender na lang kayo at magbagong buhay,” Miranda said./PN
