Suspected rebel in Maasin police station raid falls

From Panay News (Jan 28, 2020): Suspected rebel in Maasin police station raid falls (By Ruby Silubrico)

ILOILO City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) linked to the rebel raid of the police station of Maasin, Iloilo in June 2017 was arrested in Barangay Aquino Nobleza West, Janiuay, Iloilo on Jan. 26 at around 7 p.m.

Karma John Suarez, 34, of Barangay Conaynay, Santa Barbara, Iloilo, was taken to the Janiuay police station.

The arrest warrant for the crime of rebellion was issued by Judge Judith Orendain-Tonogbanua of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 20 in Mabusao, Capiz.

According to Police Captain Dadje Delima, Janiuay police chief, Suarez belonged to the NPA-Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay southern and central fronts and used the aliases “Ka Fred” and “Ka Dennis”.

“We have been looking for him for more than a year already. He used fictitious names,” said Delima.

Judge Tonongbanua set the suspect’s bail bond at P40,000 for his temporary liberty.

The daring, broad daylight June 18, 2017 incursion on the Maasin police station was swift. Within 15 minutes beginning around 10:30 a.m., the rebels shanghaied eight M16 rifles, four Glock .9mm pistols, five handheld radios and their base, two laptops, P29,000 cash, and jewelry.

The rebels did not harm the nine police officers present at the police station but handcuffed them. They also used the police station’s patrol car to flee.

The other policemen of the station were not around during the raid.

Before leaving the police station, the rebels – numbering between 40 to 50 – distributed statements to residents explaining the raid.

Maasin is some 25 kilometers from Iloilo City. The rebels were long gone when troops from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the PRO-6 reached the police station together with Senior Superintendent Christopher Tambungan, then the deputy regional director for operations.

Witnesses said the rebels fled toward the town of Alimodian./

https://www.panaynews.net/suspected-rebel-in-maasin-police-station-raid-falls/