3 suspected NPA nabbed in NegOr

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Military and police forces arrested three suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Thursday, following reports of armed men sightings in the area.

Arrested in an inter-agency military and police operation were Jomar Bernadez, 27; his younger brother John Bernadez, 24; and Warlito Quitay, 33, all residents of the said village.

Authorities recovered from the three suspects were two improvised .38-caliber revolvers, 13 live ammunitions, two hand grenades, and a rifle grenade.

The operation was conducted by the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB), together with the Sta. Catalina Police Station, 32 Military Intelligence Company (MICO) 3MIB, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-7, and the 705th Maneuver Company.

Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, 11th IB commander,in a press statement, said that the arrest of the suspects is a result of the “intelligence fusion” between the security forces and intensified intelligence information gathering focusing on the plans and movements of the communist rebels.

“There are reports that they have a plan to conduct a tactical offensive in connection with their upcoming NPA anniversary on March 29,” Redosendo said.

On our part, we will continue our intensified combat operations and active defense posture through patrols, and we will coordinate with the police to strengthen the defense of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the army stations,” he added.

The three suspects will be facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives.