3 NPA leaders nabbed in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Three leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) have been arrested in separate operations by security forces in Mindanao last Friday, the military said.

Two of the communist leaders were nabbed in Davao del Sur while one was apprehended in Bukidnon.

1Lt. Vergel Lacambra, spokesman of the Army’s 10th division, said a joint military and police operation resulted in the capture of rebels Raunil Nudalo Mortejo and Jasmin Castor Badilla in Matanao, Davao Del Sur.

They were apprehended in their rented house in Barangay Sinaragan by authority of arrest warrants for kidnapping, serious illegal detention and robbery with violence or intimidation issued by a local court in Compostela Valley.  

“The arrest will create a huge leadership vacuum in the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee because they cannot easily replace these high-valued cadres,” Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, chief of the 10th Infantry Division, said in a text message.  

“It would also affect the morale of NPA fighters as they start to develop doubts among themselves regarding their security situation,” he added. 

Lacambra said Mortejo, also known by the aliases “Nestor” and “Angkol,” was the leader of the NPA unit that abducted a member of the 25th Infantry Battalion in 2010 in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

He said Mortejo’s unit also murdered two soldiers of the 67th Infantry Battalion in Baganga, Davao Oriental last October.

Badilla, who used the alias “Antali,” has been accused of robbing and intimidating a leader of a cooperative in Mabini also in Compostela Valley.

At the time of their arrest, Mortejo functions as commander of the NPA Pulang Bagani Command while Badilla is the head of the regional medical staff of the NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, Lacambra said. 

Authorities seized an improvised explosive device, an M33 fragmentation grenade and a caliber .45 pistol with seven rounds live ammunitions from the suspects.

The two rebels are now detained at Matanao Municipal Police Station.

Another NPA leader was arrested by police and military forces in Barangay Lumintao in Quezon, Bukidnon.

Maj. Ezra Balagtey, spokesman of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the arrested rebel as Reboy Gandinao, commanding officer of the NPA Sangay ng Partido Sa Platoon.

He said Gandinao is facing murder and multi frustrated murder charges. Arresting officers recovered a Cal. 45 pistol, a magazine with ammunition and a cellular phone from the suspect.

Gandinao is now under the custody of the Valencia City police station.

“These significant results of our effort to bring peace and order to our communities are the net result of good relation and support of various stakeholders,” Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. General Aurelio Baladad said.