Top Samar Red, Bayan Muna leaders captured

From the Journal Online (Jul 14): Top Samar Red, Bayan Muna leaders captured

THE Philippine Army announced it has “captured” on Friday, a ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) responsible for communist operations in Northern Samar together with the provincial “president” of the militant group, ‘Bayan Muna.’

Capt. Ryan Velez, spokesman of the 803RD ‘Peacemaker’ Brigade, 8th Infantry ‘Stormtroopers’ Division, identified the alleged CPP-NPA leader as, Marieta ‘Ka Tayang’ Bartolo, front secretary of ‘Metro-1’ operating in the municipalities of Pambujan, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Las Navas, Mondragon and Catarman, all in Northern Samar.

Velez said also captured with Bartolo were Ruth Martirez Figueroa, Bayan Muna President-Northern Samar and the incumbent Bgy. Chairwoman of University of Eastern Philippines, Zone 3, Catarman, Northern Samar; Eboy ‘Bagyo’ Pinuton Loberiano and, Gil Espelimbergo Martirez.

In a statement, Velez added the group were nabbed in the vicinity of Bgy. Bangkerohan, Catarman while on board a vehicle by a joint military and police team sent to effect the serving of an arrest warrant for murder and frustrated murder against Bartolo issued by the Gamay Regional Trial Court.

“Three Caliber (Cal) .45 pistol, one Cal .38 revolver, one KG9 SMG, one Glock 9mm pistol were recovered from the vehicle used by the suspects,” Velez said.

“Other items recovered were 12 envelops with P30,000 each and other subversive documents,” the spokesman added.

Col. Ramil M. Bitong, Commander of 803rd Brigade, believes the recovered cash are ‘grease money’ to support the candidacy of Figueroa who is allegedly running as president of the Association of Barangay Chairman (ABC) in Catarman.

“Bartolo is believed to have raised the funds to ensure the election of Figueroa as ABC president,” Bitong averred.

He added his men are also conducting a “manhunt operation” for the arrest of the group’s other unidentified companions who managed to escape.

http://www.journal.com.ph/news/provincial/top-samar-red-bayan-muna-leaders-captured