‘Most wanted‘ rebel falls in Negros Oriental

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) wanted for various offenses was arrested at Sitio Anatuling, Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental last Saturday.

Police operatives and military troopers nabbed Jerry Montefalcon, 49, an alleged member of Central Negros 1 under the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC)-NPA operating in central Negros.

According to the Army, Montefalcon has arrest warrants for the crimes of murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives. He was not allowed to post bail.

The Army said that the suspect was allegedly involved in various harassments and liquidations of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) and civilians in the towns of Moises Padilla and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.

The 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) vowed to hunt all the remaining NPA rebels who killed innocent and unarmed civilians in central Negros.

The Army said they will continue their efforts in intensifying Joint Enhance Military Police Operations (JEMPO) against the NPA to sustain the peace and development in central Negros.

Meanwhile, the LPC-NPA condemned the arrest of Montefalcon, claiming that he is a victim of red-tagging of the government forces in Canlaon City in 2018.

Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of LPC-NPA, said that government forces stormed into Montefalcon’s house without a search warrant and arrest warrants.

Regalado said that Montefalcon is a farmer and a civilian and is not included in the roster of the NPA.