Suspected NPA leader blamed for mining, construction firm raids nabbed in S. Cotabato

From InterAksyon (May 3): Suspected NPA leader blamed for mining, construction firm raids nabbed in S. Cotabato

The man tagged by the military as a Front Secretary of the New People’s Army responsible for serial attacks on mining and construction firms in Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and Tulunan North Cotabato was arrested Friday by a joint Army-police team, the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command reported.

Capt. Alberto Caber, EASTMINCOM spokesman, said Felix Armodia alias Jing/Jade was arrested by a composite team of military and police at around 12:45 p.m. at his hideout in Barangay San Roque, Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Caber claimed Armodia’s front was responsible for several attacks on plantations and construction firms in the region who refused the NPA’s collection of “revolutionary tax.”

“Armodia’s arrest was through a tip from a civilian informer in the place,” Caber added, but could not immediately confirm if the government has a bounty for Armodia’s capture.

He said Armodia has pending cases for murder, robbery with violence and illegal detention, among others, and is now detained at the Digos City police.

Arrest follows that of Tiamzons, Rosal

His arrest follows the recent highly-publicized apprehension of alleged CPP-NPA top leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon along with four other suspected ranking rebel leaders in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

They are detained at the Custodial Center at Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police.

Shortly after the Tiamzons’ arrest, the NBI collared a pregnant Andrea Rosal, daughter of the late NPA spokesman Gregorio Rosal alias Ka Roger, and her male companion in Caloocan City. Rosal is due to give birth any time, and human rights groups are clamoring for the military to keep her in a state hospital, citing the poor conditions in her detention area.

Meanwhile, EASTMINCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III praised the residents and the security forces involved in the arrest of Armodia, vowing, “there shall be no let-up of pursuit operations against those responsible in the series of attacks to civilians and civilian properties in Eastern Mindanao. The public is now aware that their role in peace and security in the region is vital to the success of the security operations.”  

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/85975/suspected-npa-leader-blamed-for-mining-construction-firm-raids-nabbed-in-s--cotabato