CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — A high-ranking officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Central Luzon, who has a P4.7-million bounty on his head, was captured by joint military and police forces in Mexico, Pampanga on Friday, December 4.
Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, commander of the Seventh Infantry Division (7th ID), identified the captured rebel as Jose Bernardino, alias Oying, who is the NPA Secretary of Central Luzon’s Regional White Area Committee.
Bernardino was alleged to have been at the forefront of extortion, labor organizing, and youth recruitment in Region 3’s urban areas.
The suspect was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by a Nueva Ecija regional trial court (RTC).
According to Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) Spokesperson Maj Mikko Magisa, there was a reward of P4.7 million offered for information that could lead to his arrest.
Bernardino’s arrest came just two days after Amanda Echanis, daughter of slain National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Randy Echanis and said to be an NPA finance officer, was arrested in Baggao, Cagayan.
“(Bernardino’s) arrest is proof that no one can evade the long arms of the law, and that criminals will sooner than later pay for all the crimes that they committed against the people and the state,” Rosario said.
Recovered from Bernardino were a Cal .45 pistol, a hand grenade, an NPA flag, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and personal effects.
Nolcom Chief Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., which covers northern and central Luzon, lauded the operating soldiers and policemen for being steadfast in their duty of dealing the communist terrorist with decisive blows.
“Your security forces’ ability to neutralize two key NPA leaders in two days was a manifestation of the effectiveness and efficiency of our intelligence network emplaced across all areas north of Metro Manila,” Burgos said.