‘Top NPA’ leader apprehended in Southern Tagalog

From the Business Mirror (Feb 23): ‘Top NPA’ leader apprehended in Southern Tagalog

THE military has captured a top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) accused of large-scale extortions and atrocities in Southern Tagalog, including the raid at the posh Pico de Loro resort in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Major Gen. Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID), identified the arrested NPA leader as Ernesto Samarita, alias Mel, secretary of the NPA’s Guerilla Unit-3, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee and head of the finance committee of the STRPC.

Samarita is believed to be an alternate member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee operating in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Central Quezon provinces.

He is the third highest in the NPA’s STRPC and headed the Tactical Center of the Second Congress of the CPP’s Central Committee held in Mindanao only in January.

Parayno said Samarita was arrested by elements of the 730th Combat Group of the Air Force while on combat operation along Barangay Munting Indang in Nasugbu at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

“The troops noticed a roll of detonating cord, which is an explosive part or component, protruding from the unzipped part of the belt bag that the subject was wearing,” said Capt. Xy-zon Meneses, information officer of the 2nd ID.

“When asked why he is in a possession of an explosive detonating cord, instead of answering, he turned his back and tried to escape. However, he was ably prevented by the troops,” he said.

Initially, Meneses said Samarita introduced himself as Jojomar Dimayacyac of San Pablo City, Laguna, to Laureano Bauyon, chairman of Barangay Munting Indang. Further verification led to the discovery the arrested person was Samarita.

Samarita yielded about nine meters of detonating cord and blasting cap.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/top-npa-leader-apprehended-in-southern-tagalog/