Army, PNP on alert after arrest of NPA leader who doubles as anti-mining activist

From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): Army, PNP on alert after arrest of NPA leader who doubles as anti-mining activist

Military authorities placed its forces in southern Mindanao on heightened alert in anticipation of hostilities to be carried out by suspected New Peoples Army following the arrest of a ranking leader over the weekend, officials said Sunday.

Army units and policemen in the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato and North Cotabato have been placed on alert following the arrest of Romeo Rivera who was also known as Felix Armodia in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Armodia is the secretary of Front Guerilla 72 operating in the tri-borders of Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and North Cotabato, according to Army Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.

"He was an anti-mining activist bearing the name Romeo Jing Rivera and strongly opposing the Sagittarious mining in Tampakan, South Cotabato," Caber said.

Caber said he led about 50 heavily armed NPAs who attacked the police office of Matanao, Davao del Sur on March 10, killing two policemen and nine elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion who conducted pursuit operations.

Armodia has three warrants of arrests issued by Regional Trial Court of Bansalan town and Digos City in Davao del Sur, and Kidapawan City in North Cotabato.

"We expect retaliatory attacks from Armodia's followers, we are on alert," Caber said in a text message.

The NPA leader was arrested in Barangay San Roque in Tampakan, South Cotabato, at 12:45 p.m. by joint forces of the 1002th Infantry brigade and South Cotabato police.

Police tagged him as the leader of several attacks on plantations, construction firms who refused to shell out extortion money the NPAs have been demanding.

Armodia has been facing charges of murder, robbery with violence and illegal detention, among others, and is currently detained at the Digos City detention facility.

Prior to his arrest, police and Army agents tracking him following the March 10 attack in Matanao police office had received text message from civilians about Armodia's movement and location.

With the participation of the public, Eastmincom chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III lauded public's support.

In a statement, Cruz said all Army units are on alert in eastern Mindanao with arrest of Armodia even as he urged the civilians to continue supporting the military because they have roles to play in the overall security operations in the region.

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