3 NPA leaders nabbed in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - Government agents arrested three New People’s Army (NPA) leaders who yielded assorted explosives and P200,000 cash during checkpoint operations in Laguna last Wednesday.

Director Rolando Añonuevo, Calabarzon police chief, identified the three as Ruelito Soriano Sr., 50; Mariano Julongbayan, 52, alias Ka Rommel, Ka Tito Garcia and Reynaldo Mendoza, 52; and Nolan Ramos, 36.

Añonuevo said Julongbayan is the finance officer of the NPA’s Komite Probinsiya-Laguna, and Ramos its platoon leader.

A search of the rebels’ van yielded a three-kilo anti-personnel explosive with four blasting caps, a grenade, a black belt bag containing P200,000 cash, P3,120 in different denominations, a backpack containing personal belongings, two bras, two boxing shorts, 10 panties, two watches, and four t-shirts. – Non Alquitran, Ed Amoroso and Arnell Ozaeta