TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Police arrested five New People’s Army rebels following an encounter in Barangay Niug Norte, Santo Niño, Cagayan on Thursday.
The five communist rebels were identified as Edwin Callueng, alias "Happy," Aiza Antonio, alias “Ka Mira,” Ramil Andam, Alvin Andam, and Jayson Melad.
The 202nd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-2 were patrolling the barangay when they clashed with approximately 13 members of the NPA for 10 minutes.
Callueng was wounded in the gun battle and taken to a hospital here.
A native of Barangay Lipatan, Santo Niño, Callueng was listed as a Periodic Status Report Threat Group (PSRTG) in the first quarter of 2023 and a former member of the Execom/West Front of the Provincial Committee or Komprob Cagayan, KR-CV.
He had five warrants of arrest for various cases issued by courts in the region.
Antonio is a native of Peru, Lasam, Cagayan and served as a medical officer.
Police Lt. Col. Virgilio Vi-Con M. Abellera Jr., force commander, said the group controls the western part of Cagayan, particularly Solana, Piat, Amulung West, Lasam, and Santo Niño.
No recorded injuries or fatalities were recorded from the police.