Rebel leader nabbed for string of criminal cases

By Jennifer P. Rendon

One of the alleged top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay Island was arrested morning of Nov. 9 in City Proper, Iloilo City.

Jonathan Emolaga alias Bambie, vice commanding officer of the Front 11 Operational Committee of NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay, was cornered at Fuentes St., Barangag Hipodromo, City Proper.

Emolaga is also the alleged top 8 most wanted person in Iloilo province.

Members of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 6, together with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), collared Emolaga following intensive intelligence monitoring operations.

The subject of RID-6 Case Operation Plan “Bambie”, Emolaga is the subject of three arrest warrants.

He is respondent to the complex crime of double attempted murder in relation to Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives) docketed as Criminal Case No. 2936z

Judge Nelson Bartolome of the 6th Regional Trial Court Branch 67, Guimbal, Iloilo, issued the arrest on Sept. 27, 2016. No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

He is also facing a case for attempted murder (Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code) in relation to Articles 6 and 51 docketed as CC  No. 3626.

Judge Irene Banzuelo-Didulo of RTC Branch 67 Guimbal, Iloilo issued the warrant on Sept. 21, 2021. Bail was set at P120,000.

Emolaga is also facing a case for attempted homicide in CC No. 3139 issued by Judge Kathryn Rose Hitalia-Baliatan of the Municipal Trial Court of Miagao on June 21, 2023. Bail was fixed at P36,000.

Meanwhile, an additional four warrants of arrest were subsequently issued against him.

This included the case for frustrated murder under CC No. 3720, which places him on the top 7 most wanted list of San Joaquin, Iloilo.

The Tubungan Municipal Police Station also served a warrant of arrest to Emolaga for multiple murder under CC No. 3662.

On the other hand, Igbaras Municipal Police Station also served the arrest warrant for direct assault with attempted homicide. He was also Igabaras’ fourth most wanted man.

The Miag-ao Municipal Police Station listed him as the topmost wanted person after he was accused of the crime of multiple attempted murder under Criminal Case No. 3725.

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, said Emolaga is a Periodic Status Report (PSR)-listed personality.

He is also the Suyak Platoon’s Squad 3 leader of the KR-P Southern Front’s  Sentro De Gravidad.

From May 25, 2015 to April 2018, he held the position of team leader of Suyak Platoon.

He then held the position of political officer of Squad 2, Platoon 1 of Front 11 until October 2018.

From September 2020 to May 2021, he was promoted to Vice commanding officer.

Villaflor lauded the operatives involved in Emolaga’s arrest.

He also enthused the public to be one with the government in the fight to end the local insurgency.