Separate ops net two NPA rebels in Caraga

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 14, 2023): Separate ops net two NPA rebels in Caraga (By Alexander Lopez)

ARRESTED REBELS. Brig. Gen. John Kirby Kraft, Police Regional Office-Caraga director, releases an announcement on the arrest of a squad leader and a member of the New People’s Army in separate operations in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur on Aug. 12, 2023. The two rebels are among the regional police's priority targets. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13)

BUTUAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) squad leader and a member were arrested in separate implementation of arrest warrants on Saturday in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.

Maj. Jennifer Ometer, Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) information office chief, said the two arrested suspects are also listed as wanted persons in the two provinces.

“The suspects have existing arrest warrants issued by the courts and were involved in ambush and harassment of government troopers in 2018 and 2020,” Ometer said in a phone interview on Monday.

The arrested rebels were identified as Richard Gomes, 28, of San Luis, Agusan del Sur; and Ronie Perez, 50, of Diatagon, Surigao del Sur.

Gomez is the alleged leader of Squad 1, Platoon 1, Sentro De Grabidad, Guerrilla Front 88 under the NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, while Perez is a member of the weakened NPA Guerrilla Front 19 under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

“Gomes is considered the topmost wanted NPA rebel at the municipal level in San Luis while Perez is on the top two priority target for the police Regional Mobile Force Battalion,” said Brig. Gen. John Kirby Kraft, PRO-13 director.

Kraft said Gomes is facing frustrated murder charges before a regional court in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, while the warrant of arrest for attempted murder against Perez was issued by a court in Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207751