Arrested NPA leader’s partner released

DAVAO CITY, Philippines   â€“ Authorities have released the supposed girlfriend of New People’s Army (NPA) leader Roy Erecre who was arrested with him in a subdivision here Wednesday.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said Judith Jarong-Niog, Erecre’s supposed partner, was released an hour after the two were arrested in a house in Doña Salud Subdivision.

Caber said the apprehending officers found no legal basis to further hold Niog.

Erecre, who had a P5.4-million bounty, is the secretary of the Central Visayas Regional Committee and is an alternate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, according to the military.

Caber said Erecre was arrested by virtue of several arrest warrants, including for the ambush-killing of two soldiers in Carmen, Bohol in 1999.

Erecre and Niog were apprehended by joint elements of the Davao City police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 11, Armed Forces’ Intelligence Service Group, and Eastmincom.

Caber said Erecre was immediately flown to Butuan City via helicopter in time for the 3:30 p.m. flight to Cebu on Wednesday.

Seized from Erecre were a mobile phone, a 16 GB flash drive USB, and P352,000 in cash.

Authorities said Erecre was tracked down after weeklong surveillance while he and his girlfriend were vacationing in different resorts here.