Key rebel leader in Cagayan Valley arrested

MANILA, Philippines - A key officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) who is facing murder charges has been captured by the military and police in Cagayan Valley.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil Relations Service (CRS) said security forces captured Nel Villanueva, deputy secretary of a local communist unit, last March 22 in Pamplona, Cagayan.

Villanueva was nabbed for murder by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 in Tuguegarao City. Recovered from him were two improvised grenades.

The AFP-CRS said Villanueva was in charge of agitation activities, mass mobilization of NPA supporters, and recruitment of students and fisherfolk in Cagayan Valley.   

“Villanueva is said to be responsible for writing the extortion letters and computing the permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win (fees) from certain politicians,” the AFP-CRS said.

The military said Villanueva has been soliciting financial support from the international community and cause-oriented organizations. 

“It is a great dismay to learn that the generosity of the international civic groups fall into the wrong hands instead of reaching the marginalized sectors of society… We also encourage the people not to fall prey to the NPA,” said AFP-CRS chief Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr.