4 suspected NPA rebels fall in Negros

From Panay News (Oct 7, 2020): 4 suspected NPA rebels fall in Negros (BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA)

BACOLOD City – A team of police and Army personnel nabbed four alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at a checkpoint in Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Army Major Cenon Pancito, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, identified the suspects as 25-year-old Jovanie Bohol; 24-year-old Wilmar Pongasi; 31-year-old Juannie Obidas; and 31-year-old Lioltren Trinidad.

According to Pancito, troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) and police force of the Moises Padilla installed checkpoints on the evening of Oct. 2 after receiving information from locals about four suspicious individuals on board two motorcycles.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the four suspects passed through the checkpoint and while being questioned, one of the alleged insurgents yielded a gun, prompting the army and police personnel to make the arrest.

The four were believed to be members of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.

Cops were able to recover a .45-caliber pistol from Bohol while Pongasi yielded a loaded M203 grenade launcher.

Law enforcement also confiscated a transistor radio, a pair of rain boots, an NPA flag, a printer, and subversive documents.

Among the documents also include a marriage certificate owned by Nona Espinosa and Adidas Acero, who were arrested last month in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Major General Eric Vinoya, 3rd Infantry Division commander, also questioned Pongasi as it indicates the direct participation of legal organizations in NPA’s activities in the town.

Pongasi is said to also be a member of the Farmers Development Center (FARDEC) based in Cebu. He was believed to be a legal front of the insurgents.

“The arrest of Wilmar Pongasi, a staff of FARDEC, only reveals his affiliation with the Communist Terrorist Group. This is a clear manifestation of the deceptive nature of the communist rebels as they use legal organizations and terrorism against our communities to fuel their ill-motivated intent of raising funds to fill the pockets of their greedy leaders,” Vinoya added.

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