BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Yunit Militia (YM) wanted for murder for 18 years and his comrade were arrested by the military and police in an operation in remote Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning, September 9.
The suspects were identified as Judy Blazer, 61, a resident of Sitio Mabunga, and Junjie Camanso, 30, of Sitio Tumalog in Barangay Santol.
“Both are members of the YM operating in the area,” said Police Major Randy Babor, chief of the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station, who led the operation in Sitio Mainit.
Court records released by the Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) on Sunday night showed Blazer had a warrant of arrest for murder without recommended bail issued on February 9, 2005 by then acting Presiding Judge Edgardo Catilo of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55 in Himamaylan City.
On the other hand, Camanso is wanted for attempted murder under the arrest warrant signed by RTC Branch 55 Presiding Judge Walter Zorilla on September 28, 2019 with a recommended bail of P120,000.
“The 62nd IB, in partnership with the Philippine National Police, will continue its efforts in intensifying joint enhance operations against the remaining members of the communist-terrorists group to sustain the peace and development in central Negros,” Major Alenel Valles, acting civil-military operations officer, said in a statement.
A clash between NPA fighters and government forces in Barangay Santol in July last year led to the death of four rebels in Sitio Amilis.
An encounter in Sitio Bugalo in August 2021 resulted in the death of a rebel while a soldier and a civilian sustained injuries.