Army nabs four ‘rebels’ at MPadilla checkpoint

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 7, 2020): Army nabs four ‘rebels’ at MPadilla checkpoint

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported yesterday the arrest of four suspected New People’s Army rebels at a checkpoint in Brgy. Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, that also yielded explosives and a .45 caliber pistol.

The arrested rebel suspects identified as Jovanie Bohol, alias Jojo, of Danao City, Cebu; Wilmar Pongasi, alias Rain, of Dumaguete City; Juannie Obidas, of Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla; and Leoltren Trinidad, of Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, are now detained at the Moises Padilla police jail after charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against them before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Maj. Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said yesterday that the arrest of four NPA members Friday, who were riding on two motorcycles, yielded a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines containing 12 ammunition, four 40mm M203 grenade ammunition, a flag of the NPA, two transistor radios, a pair of rain boots, a computer printer, subversive documents, and a copy of the marriage certificate of two ranking rebel leaders, Nona Espinosa and Adidas Acero, who were previously arrested in Brgy, Buenavista, Guihulngan City.

Pancito said that Bohol is a member of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon of the Central Negros 1, while Pongasi is a known member of the Kabataang Makabayan and a staff member of the Farmers Development Center (FARDEC) based in Cebu City.

Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3rd Infantry Division commander, attributed the successful operations to the full cooperation of Negrenses in the government’s fight against terrorism and insurgency, as exemplified by their utmost vigilance.

Vinoya said the arrest of Pongasi, who is a staff member of FARDEC, reveals his affiliation with the communist terrorist group.

“This is a clear manifestation of the deceptive nature of the CPP-NPA-NDF 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.” he said.

On Sept. 20, Espinosa and Acero, who are both ranking rebel leaders of the NPA in central Negros, and seven others, were apprehended during a joint operation of the 62IB and police in Brgy. Buenavista, Guihulngan City, that also yielded guns and explosives.*

https://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/October/07/topstory1.htm