Alleged NPA member arrested

From the Mindanao Times (Feb 4): Alleged NPA member arrested

AN ALLEGED member of the New People’s Army was arrested by authorities at Phoenix gas station in Matina at 9 a.m. on Monday.

The rebel was one of the four suspects in the ambush of a barangay captain in Tagurano in Toril last Dec. 5.

The suspect was identified as Jonas Alingay Sumalnap, 52, resident of Sitio Saro in Barangay Manuel Guianga in Tugbok District. He was arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Regional Intelligence Unit and elements of Talomo Police Precinct.

He was arrested by virtue of the arrest warrant for frustrated murder issued by Judge Evalyn M. Arellano-Morales of Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Davao City.

City police spokersperson, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, said that the suspect came from Tugbok District on board a passenger jeep.

The arresting officers tailed the vehicle and arrested him when he alighted at the gas station.

According to Driz, Sumalnap denied the accusations against him but was positively identified by victim, Generoso Bacalso.

Col. Casiano Monilla, assistant commander of the 10th Infantry Division, also said during the AFP-PNP press conference held at Ritz Hotel yesterday that the suspect was a confirmed member of the NPA.

Sumalnap is now detained in the Talomo Police Precinct.

Bacalso survived after he and his companion were ambushed by the New People’s Army in Purok 5, Barangay Alambre at 1:10 p.m. last Dec. 5.

The attack came just a couple of days after Antonio R. Albaran, the village head of Barangay Lamanan, Calinan District, was gunned down believed to be by communist rebels in Sitio Quibaton, Barangay Dominga.

Bacalso was driving his Honda XRM motorcycle, with village councilor Docris Daug as the backrider, towards Toril proper.

When they reached the area, five armed men, believed to be members of Guerilla Front 54, peppered them with bullets. They jumped off from the motorcycle but Bacalso was hit on his left palm.

In an interview, Col. Louie Villanueva, commander of 84th Infantry Battalion, said that both Bacalso and Daug were the targets since they have always been pro-military.

“Even before, the barangay captain already received death threats,” he said. “This is the retaliation of the rebels because of the successive military offensives.”

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