High-ranking NPA amazon caught in Negros Occidental
BACOLOD CITY – A high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested by the police and military in her house during pursuit operation on Saturday, Dec. 14.
THE military found a New People's Army hideout following a clash in Barangay Bandila, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Friday, Dec. 13. (Photo courtesy of 79th IB)
Pinky, 58, reportedly a cohort of another wanted NPA rebel, Roger Fabillar alias Arnel Tapang and Jhong, was caught a day after a gunbattle with the military in Barangay Bandila, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Friday, Dec. 13.
Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), said that authorities served an arrest warrant for murder against Pinky and was able to track her through information from the people in the town.
Pinky was allegedly hiding seven remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF)-D under the leadership of Fabillar.
She was also tagged as a key leader in the Regional Headquarters of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS), making her as a high-profile official.
Samoza said that NNF remnants tend to bring their campaign to the community and use the people as human shields to prevent the military from engaging them.
It’s a long and tedious process for us to divert the enemies to the designated engagement area so that no civilians will be harmed, he said, and stressed that they highly observe the rules of engagement.
With the apprehension of one of the key personalities in the NNF-D, Samoza said that it will cripple the mobility corridor of the NPA.
He said that the P1-million bounty for the arrest of Fabillar is still up. Fabillar is wanted for his alleged involvement in series of killings in Toboso.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade said that Pinky’s apprehension is a significant achievement for law enforcement agencies involved and demonstrated their commitment to maintaining peace and security in Negros Island. She is now under the custody of the police to determine if she has other pending arrest warrants.
Prior to the apprehension of Pinky, the 79th IB overran an NPA hideout in Barangay Bandila. Recovered were firearms, ammunition, and war materiel.
The encampment that can accommodate the seven NNF remnants was tracked down through information from concerned citizens and the conduct of sustained focused military operations in the area.
The encounter occurred after military responded to information on the alleged extortion activities of an armed group in Toboso and Calatrava. The firefight lasted for 12 minutes. No casualties were recorded on the government side.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79th IB commander, said that the encounter was a clear manifestation of the relentless efforts of the troopers to hunt down every NPA personality and bring justice to the victims of NPA killings and atrocities that terrorize the communities.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC)-NPA denied the encounter in Toboso. There are no communist rebels in the area, they said.