NPA rebel wanted for various crimes falls in Negros Oriental
BACOLOD CITY – Policemen and military troops arrested a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel wanted for various offenses at Sitio Anatuling in Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental on Saturday, April 15.
The Philippine Army identified the wanted person as Jerry Montefalcon, 49, an alleged member of Central Negros 1 under the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC)-NPA operating in central Negros.
According to the Army, Montefalcon has arrest warrants for the crimes of murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives. The court has recommended no bail for his provisional liberty on his murder case.
The Army said the suspect is allegedly involved in various harassments and liquidations of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) and civilians in the towns of Moises Padilla and La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan City and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
The LPC-NPA condemned the arrest of Montefalcon, claiming that he was a victim of red-tagging of government forces in Canlaon City in 2018.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 16, Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of LPC-NPA, said that Montefalcon is not included in the roster of the NPA.
He said that Montefalcon was a farmer and a civilian.
The rebel group said that government forces stormed into Montefalcon’s house without a search warrant and arrest warrant.
Meanwhile, the Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) vowed to hunt all the remaining NPA rebels who are targeting innocent and unarmed civilians in central Negros.
The Army said they will continue their efforts in intensifying Joint Enhance Military Police Operations (JEMPO) against the NPA to sustain the peace and development in central Negros.