Former NPA member nabbed over frustrated murder, arson raps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A former member of the New People’s Army was arrested for criminal charges filed three decades ago.

Emilberto Obrique, 55, a resident of Barangay P. Javier, Sebaste, Antique, was arrested at 3 p.m. on July 11 at Barangay Jalandoni, Culasi town.

Members of Sebaste Municipal Police Station, together with Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, 2nd Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Culasi MPS, nabbed Obrique on the strength of a warrant of arrest for multiple frustrated murder and destructive arson docketed as Criminal Case Nos. C-061 and C-055, respectively.

Judge Niovady M. Marin of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Culasi, Antique issued the warrants on June 30, 1993. No bail was recommended for his temporary freedom.

Lieutenant Fritz Padroncillo, Sebaste police chief, claimed that Obrique is a former member of the NPA’s Northern Front Committee.

But he left the movement in 1990, a few years before the case was filed.

The case was apparently filed when he was with the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

They allegedly raided a house and were subsequently charged, along with four others.

But aside from that, Obrique was also charged for robbery with homicide and frustrated murder.

The cases were reportedly dismissed.

Obrique is now detained.