BUTUAN CITY – Police arrested the remaining squad commander of the New People’s Army Regional Sentro De Gravidad of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (NPA-RSDG, NEMRC) at Purok 5, Logdeck, Barangay San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on Monday night, Aug. 10.
In a report to Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Director Police Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado lV, Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director Police Col. Jeffrey Lawrence D. Mauricio, identified the arrested suspect as a certain “Commander Jihad.”
The suspect, 26, is Caraga Region’s Top 3 most wanted fugitive, Col. Mauricio said.
The arrested suspect was apprehended by virtue of multiple warrants of arrest for heinous crimes issued by the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Branch 28, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. The warrants were for three counts of murder with no bail recommended, two counts of frustrated murder, and one count of attempted murder.
The suspect is currently under the custody of the Barobo MPS for proper documentation and disposition before his turnover to the issuing court.
Col. Mauricio lauded the seamless interoperability of the operating units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in neutralizing high-value targets.
"The arrest of this regional top-most wanted person and Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leader is a monumental victory for justice and a testament to the strength of our joint PNP and AFP forces. Let this serve as a stern warning to all lawless elements,” Col, Mauricio added.
Lt. Col. Jennifer S. Ometer, chief of Regional Public Information Office of PRO 13, said another major blow was dealt to the CTG following the successful arrest of their remaining commander in the field by joint law enforcement agencies on August 10.
Brig, Gen. Magistrado lauded the Surigao del Sur PPO and other operating units of the AFP for the successful arrest of the remaining NPA commander in Surigao del Sur.
The highly intelligence-driven operation was launched by the Barobo Municipal Police Station and heavily backed by a Target Intelligence Packet from RIU13 PIT-SDS, alongside personnel from the 14th SAC, 1SAB PNP-SAF, intelligence operatives of the 41 MICO, 4th MIB, 1st SDS PMFC, and RID13.