Armed men linked to NGCP tower bombings nabbed in Catigbian

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): Armed men linked to NGCP tower bombings nabbed in Catigbian

The two armed men arrested in Catigbian for violating the Comelec gun ban late night on February 26 reportedly had open communication with ranking officials of the New People’s Army (NPA) liquidation squad, Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), operating in Negros Oriental.

Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch deputy chief, PInsp. Pelagio Rosagaran identified the suspects as as Alberto Pancho, 30, single and a resident of barangay Bugang in Bilar and Cristuto Lastomen, 21, single and resident of barangay Villaflorm, Carmen.

According to some classified information, the suspects are comrades of another suspect in the blasting the tower base of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Sagbayan town sometime in 2011 and in Barangay Camanaga in San Miguel in June last year.

After their arrest last week, investigators filed complaints against them related to illegal possession of high-powered firearm and ammunition based on Republic Act 8294, and violation of the Comelec gun ban bassed on Comelec Resolution 9561.

Catigbian police officer-in-charge, PInsp. Rufo Potane, narrated that at about 9:30 in the evening on February 26, his team conducted a mobile patrol when they chanced on the suspects. With Potane were SPO4 Leopedro Mortejo Jr., PO3 Vito Cosmo, PO3 Nelson Januhan, PO3 Danilo Cayme, PO3 Ralph Renoblas, PO2 Vicente Garcia Jr., and PO2 Wenefredo Limocon.

Upon reaching a blind curve in barangay Alegria at around 10:30 that evening, the police mobile patrol team spotted two suspicious persons on standby on board a Rusi motorcycle painted with combination of black and white and bearing the plate no. 5560 IR.

The police team stopped the patrol car in front of the suspects, but they attempted to draw their firearm tucked in their waist, prompting the police officers to point their service firearms at them. After introducing themselves as police officers, the police team ordered the suspicious persons to raise their hands. The police officers confiscated from the suspects, a Colt .45 caliber pistol with serial no. 813678 with six live ammunitions inside the magazine, Beretta 9mm caliber pistol with serial no. M250547—a PNP property and 15 live ammunitions inside the pistol’s magazine.

The black backpack also confiscated from the suspects contained six cellphones of different models, a Cannon camera, two USB flash drives, a Kenwood handheld radio, a map of the Philippines, clothes and other personal belongings, and cash amounting to P18,220. Authorities also confiscated the suspects’ motorcycle.

Upon receiving the report, Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) launched a follow-up operation. The joint operation the following day, involved elements of Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT), 2nd Special Forces Battalion, Regional Intelligence Unit 7, and Military Intelligence Group (MIG) of Region 7—led by PCInsp. George Caña.

At about 2:30 in the afternoon on February 27, the composite police-military team proceeded to barangay Alegria, Catigbian after obtaining information that the two improvised explosive devices were left in a bushy area in barangay Alegria, Catigbian. According to the information, Pancho and Lastomen, and four others who remain at large were the ones who left it there.

In front of the new Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Bohol chapter president, Lawyer Menedio Thadeu Bernido, Lastomen voluntarily confessed that their group placed the two sacks accessories for an improvised explosive device assembly and two improvised explosive devices in the area.

After the PIDMB at the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) took down his statement, they proceeded to the area described by Lastomen and, indeed, saw the two sacks.

The first sack they checked contained containing 30 meters of electrical wiring cord, eight meters of orange nylon rope, two battery packs—one with small batteries, the other had 18 big batteries. The other sack they recovered at the site contained two improvised explosive devices. The composite team of police and military took custody of the items recovered from the area after taking pictures of them for documentation.

There were also reports linking Pancho and Latomen with a certain Ruben Nabas, also known as “Elmer” to some, “Padi” or “Rex” to others who is allegedly a member of the SPARU.

Reports from 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental also linked Nabas to rebellion. In fact, a warrant of his arrest has been issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 based in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental for rebellion. He is allegedly the NPA vice-chair of the group operating in Negros Oriental. Nabas was implicated in the killing of PInsp Pelecio Domino, who was chief of police of Talibon town and the attack on police camps in 1999.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=503352