CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela -- A high ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) was arrested on Tuesday, May 31, in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Combined forces of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police arrested Evangeline Rapanut also known as Chat/Ines in Greenwood Heights Subdivision, Brgy. Paliparan 1, Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
The military said that Rapanut was served with Warrants of Arrest for the crimes of murder and frustrated murder which she and her cohorts had allegedly committed in Cagayan Valley region.
Evangeline Rapanut @Chat/Ines was the former Secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon- Cagayan Valley (KR-CV), and a current CPP Central Committee member; 2nd Deputy Secretary for Organization and Deputy Secretary, National Education Department (NED) of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
The Philippine Army said that Rapanut has been in the underground movement since the 1970s until she became a full-time NPA member in the mid-1970s.
Randy Belen Tamayo @Deng, communication staff of the National Education Department of the CPP-NPA-NDF, was also arrested during the operation.
The authorities found assorted war materials during the operation, including one M16 Blackwater Bushmaster assault rifle magazine assembly with 18 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 9mm Armscor pistol, magazine assembly for 9mm with 6 rounds ammunition, hand grenade, four detonating cords, blasting cap, 8-gig Kingston USB flash drive, and several cellular phones and electronic devices.
Rapanut is being blamed for mass orientations to radicalize the youth, students, and vulnerable sectors such as indigenous people, trade unions, urban poor, and farmers.
Its purpose is to recruit additional political and military cadres in support of the recovery of Komiteng Probinsya (KOMPROB) Batangas under Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC).
The Rapanut group was also trying to expand in Cavite and Central Quezon as the center of manufacturing and industrial establishments in Southern Tagalog.
General Laurence E. Mina congratulated the combined government forces on the arrest of the high-ranking CPP members.
He said the apprehension of Evangeline Rapanut and Randy Tamayo will lead to the exposure of the CTG's nationwide extortion operations and infiltration into the different sectors of the society.
The arrest would also expose the conduct of terroristic activities, and their international and local political works, particularly their use of front organizations, Mina said.
The official is optimistic that the arrest of the two rebels will weaken the CTG which is now on the verge of collapse due to the successive government operations that resulted in the neutralization and apprehension of its Party leadership.”
General Mina also stressed that the arrest of Rapanut and Tamayo could not have been made possible without the professionalism and competence of the government forces involved, and the strong support of the people.
Cases filed against Evangeline Rapanut were CC Nr 9090 for Murder – RTC 2nd Judicial Region Br 5 (No Bail); CCR 9091 for Murder-RTC 2nd Judicial Region Br 5 (No Bail); CC Nr 9092 for frustrated murder - RTC 2nd Judicial Region Br 5 (Bail-200,000.); CC Nr II-12445 for Robbery-RTC Br 8 Aparri, Cagayan (Bail-40,000).
They were arrested too by virtue of WA for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 (Law of Explosives).