Negros rebel chief nabbed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The commander of the New People’s Army in Negros was arrested in Barangay Zone 2 in Cadiz City on Monday.

Col. Oscar Lactao, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said the arrest of Romeo Nanta, 54, with aliases of Juanito Magbanua, Juaning, Jack Nanta, Islaw and Kulas, was a big blow to the rebel movement in Negros.

Military and police records show that Nanta was linked to the bombing of a Globe Telecom towers in Toboso and Cauayan, the raid of police and military detachments in Escalante and Toboso in 2006 and 2010, burning and bombing of two transloading stations in Toboso and Victorias Milling Co. in Victorias City, the raid of a police station in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, ambush of civilians in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso and the harassment of a detachment in Barangay Villegas, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. – Danny Dangcalan