CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – Police arrested two most wanted New People’s Army rebels in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur on Saturday, August 12.
Police Regional Office-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft identified the suspects as “Ka Mario,” 50, and “Ka Saskie,” 28.
Ka Mario was a former member of Weakened Guerilla Front 19 and listed as the top most wanted of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13’s Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) Priority Target (PT).
Ka Saskie, 28, was a former squad leader Under Squad 1, Platoon 1, Sentro de Grabidad, Guerilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, and listed as alleged the Top 1 CTG PT on the municipal level.
Ka Mario was arrested by the 1301st Mobile Company, RMFB-13, 14th Special Action Company, ISAB, PNP-SAF, and Lianga Municipal Police Station based on a warrant of arrest for attempted murder issued by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 28, 11th Judicial Region, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Kraft said Ka Mario was allegedly one of the NPA members who ambushed two Philippine Army soldiers in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga on February 19, 2020.
Ka Saskie was arrested by the San Luis Municipal Police Station, Agusan del Sur Provincial Intelligence Unit, and RMFB-13 based on a warrant of arrest for frustrated murder issued by the RTC, Branch 7, 10th Judicial Region, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.
She was allegedly among the NPA members involved in an encounter in Agusan del Sur in 2018 where some soldiers were wounded.
“Arrested persons were now placed behind bars of justice following the aggressive efforts of Caraga police in an anti-terrorism campaign,” Kraft said. “We continue to elevate our efforts against all CTG members with standing warrants of arrest through the help of the community.”