Highest ranking CPP/NPA official in Region 2 captured

From the Philippine News Agency (May 5): Highest ranking CPP/NPA official in Region 2 captured

Cagayan Valley's highest ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front (CNN) and most wanted person was arrested on Thursday in the municipality of Penablanca, Cagayan province by the joint operatives of police and military.

Personnel of the Police Regional Office 2 and soldiers from the 17th IB, 502 Brigade, 5th ID, PA apprehended David Soriano, regional secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyon ng Hilagang Silangan ng Luzon of the CNN’s Northern Front, at Barangay Kamasi, Penablanca, Cagayan.

Also arrested with Soriano was Jude Malana Cipriano, the driver of the Starex van with plate no. WML 500. They were traversing the provincial road in Penablanca when intercepted by the joint police and military operatives who were tailing them.

Seized from the duo were two 9mm pistols, found to be PNP-issued properties; a fragmentation grenade; a rifle grenade and various subversive documents.

Soriano is Cagayan Valley’s top most wanted person owing to his involvement in several high-profile crimes in the region. He was one of the suspected masterminds in the ambush of police personnel in Baggao in February 2016. At least six policemen, who were on their way to investigate CNN atrocities in Bagga-o, including the burning by rebels of heavy equipment in the area, were killed while 10 others were wounded in that incident. Soriano was also the principal suspect in the murder of Gonzaga, Cagayan Mayor Carlito Pentecostes, Jr. in April 2014.

However, one of his most notorious crimes against the police happened in May 2013, when his rebel unit waylaid a platoon of unarmed policemen on their way to their annual physical fitness test. At least eight police officers were killed in the ambush, while seven others have been wounded.

In an apparent diversionary move by the CNN in the region, a posse of around 30 rebels attacked a police sub-station in nearby Amulung town in Cagayan, almost simultaneously with the arrest of Soriano.

The armed men took away four M16s and two PNP-issued 9mm pistols. The armed men also burned the police Mahindra patrol vehicle before escaping towards an unspecified direction.

Reports revealed that the armed men also tortured the police personnel of the sub-station before escaping.

Police regional Office 2 (PRO2) Regional Director PCSupt. eliseo T. Rasco, ordered for all personnel to be vigilant as ever in the wake of CNN atrocities in the region, which target police stations.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/985335