ILOILO City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested in Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper.
The 40-year-old Marichu Francisco – a native of Barangay VIII, Tuburan, Cebu – was wearing a police uniform when she was nabbed a few meters from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
PRO-6 spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong said Francisco was seen sitting in front of a carinderia clad in a PNP athletic uniform and maong pants around 7:30 a.m. on May 11.
“One of our police officers went suspicious when she saw that the suspect was wearing an athletic t shirt of the PNP with maong pants. When we saw her (Franciso), we knew she is not a PNP official. Halos tanan nga police officials kilala naton. Aside from that, she was not wearing proper uniform,” said Malong.
Recovered from Francisco’s backpack were Army uniforms, Army name plates and other documents, police said.
Malong said they were still verifying if Francisco is indeed a member of the NPA.
Prior to Francisco’s arrest, PRO-6 received information that rebels allegedly bought thousands of PNP athletic uniforms in Manila.
“The higher command ordered to watch over persons who are wearing PNP t-shirts because of that intelligence report,” Malong said./PN
