Kalinaw News: Government troops arrest four NPAs in Negros

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 6, 2020): Government troops arrest four NPAs in Negros

CAMP PERALTA, Jamindan, Capiz – Four (4) members of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS) of the CPP-NPA terrorist organization were arrested in a government checkpoint at Sitio Proper, Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental around 8:00 pm, Friday, October 2, 2020.

The joint elements of 62nd Infantry Battalion and Moises Padilla Police Station immediately established a checkpoint after receiving information from the local populace about the presence of four (4) suspicious individuals in the area riding two (2) motorcycles. During the interview at the checkpoint, one of the individuals was found to be in possession of an illegal firearm that led to the apprehension of the group.

Further investigation revealed that the arrested personalities were the following: Jovanie Bohol alias JOJO, in possession of cal .45 pistol, 25 years old, a resident of Brgy. Bayabas, Danao City, Cebu, a member of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Platoon of the CPP-NPA’s CN1; Wilmar Pongasi alias RAIN, in possession of M203 grenade launcher live ammunitions, 24 years old, a resident of Brgy. Poblacion 1, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, a staff of CPP-NPA-NDF legal front organization Farmers Development Center (FARDEC) based in Cebu, and a known member of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM); Juannie Obidas, 31 years old, a resident of Sitio Banate, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental; and Lioltren Trinidad, 31 years old, a resident of Sitio Bandirahan, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Seized from the arrested personalities are the following: one (1) cal .45 pistol; two (2) magazines of .45 pistol; 12 cal .45 live ammunitions; four (4) 40mm M203 grenade launcher live ammunitions; two (2) transistor radios; one (1) pair of rain boots; one (1) NPA flag; one printer; subversive documents, which indicate their connection to the CPP-NPA terrorists; and one (1) marriage certificate of top ranking NPA couple Nona Espinosa alias AVA/GELAY and Adidas Acero alias BALDO/BJ, who were previously apprehended on September 20, 2020 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

In a statement, Major General Eric Vinoya, Commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, questioned the affiliation of Wilmar Pongasi, one of the arrested personalities, with the group as it indicates the direct participation of legal organizations in the CPP-NPA’s terroristic activities in the area. He also attributed the success of the apprehension to the full cooperation of the Negrenses in the government’s fight against terrorism and insurgency as exemplified by their utmost vigilance.

“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 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.” said Major General Vinoya.

“While the recent apprehension in Moises Padilla town indicates that our fight against terrorism is far from over, it also showed the vigilance and the willingness of the Negrenses to free their community from violence perpetrated by the CPP-NPA terrorists as evidenced by their full cooperation with the authorities.” he added.

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