Concha is still WV’s ‘most wanted rebel’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

With a bounty of P5.3 million, Ma. Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala is still considered as Western Visayas’ most wanted rebel member.

Arenata-Bocala, who also goes by the aliases Etang and Martha, is the secretary general of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Operating in Panay Island, she was charged for rebellion in Criminal Case No. 18652, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) report showed.

The PRO-6 has recently released the names of nine wanted rebels with monetary rewards.

Given the bounty on her head and the death of her husband, Reynaldo Bocala, in a police encounter last May 28, 2021, Concha remains elusive.

Since 2017, police and military operatives have been on active manhunt operations against her.

Numerous operations were launched against Concha that went as far as Masbate and other parts of Western Visayas.

But it is believed that she is still in Panay Island for her to project that she’s still in control.

The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has earlier tagged CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and 18 other CPP officials, including Concha and 10 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASH) bandits as terrorists.

In February 2017, authorities began their hunt against Concha after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of NDF consultants.

There were 21 consultants but at least 40 CPP-NPA-NDF leaders were released, as part of the government’s confidence-building measures during the botched peace talks in the earlier part of the Duterte administration.

The NDF consultants, including Concha, were temporarily released from detention August 2016 to take part in the peace negotiations.

But on Nov. 23, 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360, which formally terminated the peace talks with the communist rebels.

The talks were terminated after NPA rebels conducted several attacks targeting government troops.

Under the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), it is said that protection and immunities are revoked 30 days following receipt of the formal notice on the termination of the peace negotiations.

Concha, 71, was arrested for murder and rebellion in a rented house at Juntado Subdivision, Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City on Aug. 1, 2015.

With her during the arrest were her nephew Joseph Cariaga, 34, and Annielyn Soldevilla, 39, the househelp.

Her arrest carried a reward of P7.8 million.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, said that the release of wanted CTG personalities is part of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

“By letting the public know that these personalities are facing criminal offenses, they could inform authorities if they have knowledge of their whereabouts,” he said.

Getting the suspects arrested, Solis said, would further weaken the New People’s Army (NPA) movement.

The other wanted terrorists on the list are:

Elmer Buencochillo alias Jess

Multiple murder and frustrated murder

Reward: P150,000

 

Roberto Cabales alias Ted/Apid/Ryan/Robert

Robbery in band with frustrated murder and damage to property

Reward: P150,000

 

Nahum Camariosa alias Bebong

Multiple murder

Reward: P150,000

 

Arlo Vargas alias Allen

Murder, robbery in band

Reward: P1.05 million

 

Severino Geonago alias Berona/Dario/Tisoy

Robbery with serious physical injury

Reward: P500,000

 

Roberto Gomia alias Toto/Miller/Eloy

Destructive arson

Reward: P1.05 million

 

Rexel Sejas

Multiple murder and frustrated murder

Reward: P1.05 million

 

Magno Flores

Murder

Reward: P550,000