Caraga’s top ‘underground’ youth leader faces more raps

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 23, 2021): Caraga’s top ‘underground’ youth leader faces more raps (By Alexander Lopez)

MORE CHARGES. The Police Regional Office in Caraga says more arrest warrants were served against Renalyn G. Tejero, the alleged top underground youth leader in the area, on Monday (March 22, 2021) for the additional charges of multiple attempted murder and attempted murder. Tejero was arrested in Cagayan de Oro on March 20, 2021. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)

The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) has filed additional criminal charges against Renalyn G. Tejero, the alleged top underground youth leader in the area.

Police and Army operatives arrested Tejero Sunday in Cagayan de Oro City.

Authorities said Tejero is the secretary of the underground Kabataan Makabayan, a youth organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

Tejero is currently detained at the custodial facility of Station 1 of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO).

In a statement Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat, Jr. said additional arrest warrants for the crimes of multiple attempted murder and attempted murder were served to Tejero on Monday afternoon while inside the custodial facility.

Caramat, the PRO-13 director, added that the additional arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 34 in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

Based on their investigation, Caramat said Tejero was also involved in the attack of the Alpha Company of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) in Barangay Hinimbangan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte last February 5, 2017.

Authorities said she was also among the NPA members encountered by the Scout Platoon of the 29IB in the hinterlands of Barangay Mahayahay in Kitcharao on October 9, 2017.

“Her arrest is a big blow to the entire NPA forces. Contrary to the propaganda of the enemies of the state, if there is somebody who shall be held accountable for the commission of crimes, it should be the red fighters who are killing civilians, threatening the community with weapons, and have committed various offenses such as extortion and arson,” Caramat said.

Tejero’s arrest in Cagayan de Oro was based on arrest warrants for murder and multiple attempted murder charges for the killing of former rebels Zaldy Acidillo Ybañez and Datu Bernandino Astudillo in Barangay Magroyong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, on March 19 last year.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134613