By FRANCO G. REGALA
CAMP JULIAN OLIVAS, Pampanga— Five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) based in Pampanga were arrested by the police in Barangay Del Pilar, City of San Fernando, here, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) reported yesterday.
Reports reaching Chief Supt. Aaron N. Aquino, PRO3 regional director, said that combined operatives of Pampanga Police-Provincial Intelligence Branch, City of San Fernando Police Station, Provincial Public Safety Company and Regional Intelligence Division 3 conducted police operation after verification of robbery-extortion complaints by Ladislao del Rosario, a businessman in Barangay Del Pilar, this city.
Investigation disclosed that del Rosario reported the incident to the police, which resulted in the arrest of suspects identified as Leonides Legazpi Ramos, 40; Jobeth Mendoza Caranza, 27; Darwin Dungao Santiago aka “Ka Darwin’’, 36; Roderick Bobot Laxamana, 42; Alex Saddi Guevarra, 38, all from the province.
Police seized assorted handguns, a hand grenade, five sachets of illegal drugs, and two vehicles from the suspects.
The suspects were detained at San Fernando Police Station Jail and are facing charges for Violation of Art. 299 of the RPC (Robbery Extortion), RA No. 9165, RA 10591 and Sec. 3 of PD 1866 as amended by R.A. No. 9516
Further investigation is being conducted to find out the linkages of the arrested suspects to the (NPAs) rebels operating in Pampanga.