Suspected rebels nabbed in pursuit operation

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A woman and her son who are believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested in a pursuit operation afternoon of Nov 7 in Calinog, Iloilo.

Members of the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion nabbed Lilibeth Gimong, 49, and her son, 28-year-old Nelson Gimong Jr., both residents of Barangay Garangan, Calinog.

Captain Roel Maglalang, 301st Infantry Brigade’s Civil Military Office (CMO) chief, tagged the two as members of the Sentro De Gabidad (SDG) under Igabon Platoon of the NPA’s Kilusang Rehiyon Panay (KR-P).

They were on board a motorcycle when soldiers and members of the Calinog Police Station collared them at Barangay Cahigpn around 1 p.m. Sunday.

Taken from their possession were a homemade M16 rifle, two rifle grenades, a hand grenade, three live M16 ammunitions, assorted medicines and medical supplies, a mobile phone, assorted personal belongings, and identification cards.

Their arrest was an offshoot of an intelligence report on the alleged presence of NPA members who attended a meeting in the “mountains.”

“We couldn’t exactly say where it is pero galing sila sa bundok,” Maglalang said.

The two apparently went to the town proper to buy medicines and other supplies when they were caught.

They even tried to run away but police and soldiers caught up with them.

It was also found that Nelson has a pending arrest warrant for attempted murder in Criminal Case No. C-17-1863-19.

Judge Judith Orendain-Tonogbanua Tarol of the Regional Trial Court Branch 20 in Mambusao, Capiz issued the arrest warrant on Oct. 30, 2017. Bail was fixed at P120,000.

Maglalang confirmed that the two suspects were on the latest period status report (PSR), or the government’s watchlist of NPA personalities.

One of their relatives surrendered to authorities in February 2021 in Mambusao, Capiz. But they have other family members who are still in the rebel movement.

The two suspects are now detained at Calinog Police Status.