NPA wanted for murder arrested

MANILA, Philippines - After two years in hiding, a suspected New People’s Army rebel, wanted for the murder of a militiaman in Abra two years ago, was arrested in Ilocos Sur Friday.

The suspect, Dominic Guibasan alias Ka Robot did not resist arrest when cornered in Barangay Sta. Maria, in Narvacan town in Ilocos Sur by combined elements of the police and Army troopers.

Senior Superintendent Alex Pumecha, Cordillera police intelligence chief said Guibasan was one of the suspects in the killing of militiaman Raul Labawan in Abra on Sept. 2007.

Pumecha said Guibasan is facing murder charges in the chamber of Judge Corpuz Alzate, of the Abra Regional Trial Court Branch 1.

Upon receipt of reports that Guibasan was hiding in Ilocos Sur, joint elements of the Cordillera police intelligence division, Abra police, Regional Intelligence-14, 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Arny and Arnold Molina municipal treasurer of Baay-Licuan town rushed to the area to have him arrested.

Guibasan is now undergoing tactical interrogation at the Cordillera police, said Pumecha.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño said the arrest of Guibasan was made possible with the cooperation of the local community and government forces in realization of the goal for a peaceful and progressive Cordillera region.

Pestaño noted that since the arrest of top Abra NPA leader Jovencio Balweg last year, at least 61 rebels were arrested, surrendered or neutralized through the strong support of the local populace.

“Thirty NPA rebels availed of the Social Integration Program of the government as they start a new life in the mainstream of society,” he said.

The Corillera police director reported that 504 high powered firearms and 33 handguns of the NPAs were confiscated since last year.