File photo of New People's Army fighters in the Caraga region. (Erwin M. Mascariñas, InterAksyon.com)
The fourth most wanted person in the Caraga region, also known as commander Joker of the communist News People’s Army (NPA), was captured on Monday by elements of the Philippine National Police and the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion manning a Comelec checkpoint in the town of Las Nieves in Agusan Del Norte.
“At around 1:00 in the afternoon our composite Comelec PNP and AFP checkpoint along barangay Mat-I in the town of Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte were able to apprehend Ricardo Manili, better known as commander Joker, one of the high ranking commanders of the NPA,” said Police Chief Superintendent Rolando Felix, Caraga regional police director. “He is on the number list of our most wanted and has a reward on his head for P4.9 million.”
Felix revealed that, “Commander Joker was inside a van without an authorized plate, that inside the van the police team were also able to get a homemade shotgun, a caliber .45 pistol, a 9mm pistol, an improvised explosive device, a grenade, two blasting caps, three bolos, several rounds of ammunitions, medical kit and other documents and personal belongings.
“There were also six individuals inside the van with him who are now under investigation to verify their real names and assess if they are together with commander Joker and members of the NPA,” Felix added.
Felix, who assumed his position as the regional police chief this January, considered the capture a big achievement for the region’s police force.
“This is an achievement not only for the police but also for our brothers in the army and a huge hit to the leadership of the NPA here in Caraga Region. Commander Joker is known to be an institution within the armed movement. I’m sure his capture will have an impact towards the NPA,” said Felix.
A police report from the field suggests that the vehicle was on its way to Bayugan City through the new roads along Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur. The vehicle was believed to have come from barangay Tungao in Butuan City.
Manili has an outstanding warrant for two counts of rebellion, two counts of murder and multiple murders, according to police data.
According to a report of the 4th Infantry Battalion in October 2011, Manili and four other guerrillas were killed in an encounter in Barangay Calabuan in Esperanza. The NPA refuted this report.
Manili was last seen on camera handing over the release of Corporal Adriano Bingil of the Army's 26th Infantry Battalion in December 31, 2016 in the town of Las Nieves.
The Caraga region in northeastern Mindanao is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands and the cities of Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao, Tandag, Bislig and Bayugan.
http://interaksyon.com/article/127222/caragas-4th-most-wanted--top-npa-leader-captured-at-pnp-afp-checkpoint
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