BACOLOD CITY – The police and military arrested two alleged high-ranking officials and seven other members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Buenavista, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Saturday.
Authorities served seven arrest warrants against Nona Espinosa-Acero, deputy front secretary of Central Negros 1 (CN1) of Komiteng Rehiyon Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS), and her husband, Adidas Acero, vice commanding officer of Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC).
Nona had an arrest warrant for multiple murder, murder, robbery, theft, and frustrated murder, while Adidas had warrants for illegal possession of explosives, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Also arrested were Lea Niles, Xian Flores, Rodrigo Benlot, Felix Policher, Analyn Flores, Crispin Diano, and Juravilla Baloy.
Military troops recovered a .9mm Glock17 caliber pistol, three .45 caliber pistols, two hand grenades, a .357 caliber revolver with five serviceable ammunition, 81 rounds of ammunition, six magazine assemble for .9mm caliber, and .45 caliber pistol, personal belongings, 2 National Democratic Front (NDF) manuals, and three sets of case folders of a shooting incident in Guihulngan City.
All nine of them are now under the custody of Guihulngan City Police Station for the filing of appropriate charges.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the arrest of the NPA couple was another setback for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-NDF operating in Negros island.
“This is a victory to the government’s anti-terrorism drive. With their capture, we expect demoralization and disarray among their ranks especially on CN1 who continue to suffer defeats against our troops,” he noted.
Pasaporte lauded the troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), and urged them to go hard after the insurgents until they give up their arms and surrender to the government.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said they were doubling their efforts and strategies to keep the Communist terrorists from staging more terror attacks.
“This is a breakthrough to our anti-insurgency effort and a major setback to the anti-peace and anti-people activities of the CPP-NPA terrorist in the island of Negros,” he added.