NPA leader tagged in Bukidnon raid nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) commander who led a raid on a police station in Bukidnon in 2005 has been captured along with his bodyguard, and troops seized two .45 caliber pistols from them.

Maj. Samuel Sagun, Army 4th Division regional spokesman, said Gerry Gentapa alias Dodie and his security escort, Anthony Lapinig were captured on March 21 in Purok 3-B, Barangay Khapunan in Valencia, Bukidnon after a week of surveillance.

However, their arrests were made known only yesterday, he added.

Sagun said Gentapa, a Communist Party of the Philippines official in North Central Mindanao, and Lapinig have undergone inquest before the Bukidnon Prosecutor’s Office, and that they have already been charged in court with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban, and rebellion.

Troops seized from Gentapa and Lapinig two .45 caliber pistols with magazines and 17 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, and three backpacks with subversive documents and personal belongings, he added.

Sagun said Gentapa was tagged in the raid on a police station in Quezon town in November 2005 and a militia base in Barangay Banlag, Valencia town in August last year. – Roel Pareño