Wanted high-ranking Reds' leader, 5 others nabbed

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 16, 2021): Wanted high-ranking Reds' leader, 5 others nabbed (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Photo courtesy of PNP

Government operatives arrested six Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) rebels, including a high-ranking leader, wanted for several charges in separate operations in Quezon City and Bulacan on Tuesday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos identified the leader as Gil Peralta, a regular CPP Central Committee member and one of the convenors of the CPP 2nd Congress, who was arrested at his rented house in Barangay Maribolo, Quezon City on Tuesday.

Peralta was nabbed for frustrated murder and arson docketed under Criminal Case Nos. II-10853 and II-10854 issued by Judge Conrado Tabaco of the Branch 09 of Regional Trial Court, Second Judicial Region in Aparri, Cagayan.

Authorities seized caliber 5.56mm Colt, caliber .9mm Armscor, two magazines, 32 pieces of ammunition, 93 inches detonating cap, an MK2 fragmentation grenade, 12 blasting caps, eight improvised boosters, a holster for pistol, and a cellular phone from Peralta.

Based on the police records submitted by CIDG chief Maj. Albert Ferro, Peralta is also secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon–Cagayan Valley (KR-CV), Executive Committee member, first deputy secretary, finance officer, head of regional organizational department, and communication department of KR-CV.

Peralta was one of the brains behind the many NPA attacks in the Cagayan Valley region, including the burning of DDT Construction equipment in the town of Lal-lo, Cagayan in October 2020, and an attack on a CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) detachment in Sto. Niño, Cagayan in July 2019.

He was also implicated in the ambush and murder of the former Lasam, Cagayan councilor Marjorie April Salazar, Eduardo Asuten, John Rey Cortes and Aiza Salvador Manuel.

Former KR-CV members revealed that Peralta was involved in corruption activities within the CPP-NPA and has been using the funds that the terrorist organization generated from its extortion operations for personal gains.

In Barangay San Vicente, Santa Maria, Bulacan, Carlos said the police also arrested the five CPP-NPA-NDF members identified as Irene Agcaoili, Lourdes Bulan, Roy Dela Cruz, Arcadio Tangonan, and Natividad Santos.

“The apprehension of Peralta and his five staff will significantly affect the leadership and organization of the CPP-NPA, especially in the Cagayan Valley Region. Likewise, it will give justice to the victims of the NPA in the Cagayan Valley region,” Carlos said in a press briefing.

Agcaoili, also known as Ayang, is the finance head of KR-CV who is wanted for murder, multiple attempted murder and robbery and with PHP700,000 bounty on her head while Dela Cruz is intelligence officer of KR-CV, and Bulan alias Simang is an executive committee member of KR-CV who is wanted for murder and multiple attempted murder.

During the service of the arrest warrant, Agcaoili tried to shoot the arresting officers with a handgun while Santos armed himself with a hand grenade. Both were subdued by the operatives.

Seized from the suspects were four handguns, three hand grenades, several improvised explosive devices, ammunition, several magazines, 12 blasting caps (non-electric); and eight improvised boosters.

“These personalities were also identified by their members to be part of the Manila Support Group who are engaged in facilitating and initiating extortion activities of the KR-CV here in Manila,” Carlos said.

He said the suspects will be presented in court for the various criminal charges lodged against them.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159915