Army, police operatives nab MB member in AgNor

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 14, 2020): Army, police operatives nab MB member in AgNor (By 23rd Infantry Battalion) 

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Nov. 14 -- Joint forces of the 23rd Infantry “Masigasig” Battalion (23rd IB) and the Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) from Stations 1 and 5 arrested an active member of the Militia ng Bayan (MB) and Sanga sa Partio sa Lokalidad (SPL) under the Guerrilla Front (GF) 4-A, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorist (CNT) during a law enforcement operation conducted on November 1, 2020, at Purok 22, Bagong Silang, Barangay San Mateo in Butuan City.

The apprehended CNT member was identified as Eduardo Namaog Bagsican @LOLONG, 55, and a resident in the area.

The police personnel and the 23rd IB troopers were in the area for the service of an arrest warrant issued against the subject CNT member. Bagsican is wanted for the crime of Attempted Murder docketed as Criminal Case No 2020-985 at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 in Butuan City. His arrest warrant was issued by Judge Marigel S. Dagani-Hugo with a recommended bail bond of PHP150,000.00. After the arrest, authorities brought the CNT member to BCPO station 5 for custody and proper disposition.

Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the Acting Commander of 23rd IB commended the Army and police personnel involved in the arrest of Bagsican.

“No one is above the law,” Paulo said, referring to the remaining members and supporters of the CNTs in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.

He pointed out that the government will not stop in performing law enforcement operations against CNT members who have standing warrants of arrest and the implementation of the programs and services under Executive Order No. 70, or the Whole-of-Nation approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

“We will do our best to neutralize all the spoilers of peace and those who destroy our country. It is always the aim of the government to make this country constantly soaring high to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development,” Paulo said.

He also urged the remaining members of GF 4-A of the CNT to surrender as the government continue to offer them programs and services.

“Stop exploiting, manipulating, harassing and extorting from the people, especially those in the countryside. You are only making the lives of our people miserable and their communities impoverished,” Paulo said.

He also reminded the CNT members that criminal charges will be filed against them once they continue to harass and intimidate residents. (1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang, CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1058973