ILOILO CITY – The Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army has released the names of the seven most wanted New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the Visayas.
“Your cooperation is vital to our anti-insurgency effort, especially in locating and neutralizing the wanted NPA leaders, who orchestrated various terroristic activities in Region 6 and other areas,” said Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander.
Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala is the most wanted rebel in the list with a bounty of P5.3 million. She was arrested in Iloilo City in 2015 for charges of rebellion, murder, and illegal possession of firearms.
Bocala was released temporarily in August 2016 and went to Norway as a Visayas-based consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the organization linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA, during peace talks of the Duterte administration.
When the peace talks failed, Bocala went missing and police intelligence reports said the former secretary general of the CPP-NPA in Panay Island is in the area hiding.
Roberto Cabales has a bounty of P3.1 million. The secretary of the NPA Central Front Committee in Panay Island is wanted for frustrated murder, robbery in band, and damage to property.
Roberto Gomia has a bounty of more than P1 million for a destructive arson charge.
Arlo Vargas has a bounty of P550,00 for robbery-in-band. Vargas is said to be the squad leader for a regional strike force of the NPA in the islands of Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (NCBS).
Severino Geonago also has a bounty of P550,000 for robbery and serious physical injuries. Geonago is a political guide for the squad of the Samahang Yunit Propaganda Platoon of the NPA Panay Island Committee.
Magno Flores has a bounty of P550,000 for murder. He is the first deputy secretary general of the NPA in NCBS.
Nahum Camariosa has a bounty of P150,000. The commanding officer of SYP Platoon for the NPA Southern Front Committee in Panay is wanted for multiple and frustrated murders.