Top CPP-NPA leader in Panay, pal killed in shootout with gov’t troops

By Jennifer P. Rendon

One of the alleged top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Panay Island and his companion were killed in a shootout with government troops evening of May 28, 2021 in Pavia, Iloilo.

Police claimed that Reynaldo Bocala and a certain Ramon were killed after they resisted police and military troops in a rented house at Block 71, Village 3 of Providence Subdivision in Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo.

Bocala alias Bading, husband of top NPA leader Concha Araneta-Bocala, is on the DILG list of most wanted persons. He was the alleged deputy secretary of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon Panay.

Police confirmed that a P4.8-million was placed on Bocala’s head.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG), together with PNP and Armed Forces units, were about to arrest Bocala when he allegedly put up a fight with authorities.

He was accused of robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property with the use of motor vehicle and unlicensed firearm in Criminal Case No. 2627- TU. Judge Susan Medina Alcantara of the 15th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) ordered his arrest on July 12, 2004.

Bocala was also the subject of an arrest warrant for robbery with serious physical injury in Criminal Case No. 1337 issued by Judge Teodolo Colada of the Regional Trial Court Branch 67 in Guimbal, Iloilo on Feb 4, 2005.

Bocala was also accused of violation of Presidential Decree 1744 (Destructive Arson) in Criminal Case No. 1373. Judge Colada also issued the warrant on Feb 21, 2005.

He was also accused of murder in Criminal Case No. 1238-H. The warrant was issued by Judge Ma. Monina Misajon of MCTC-Antique province on Apr 16, 1990.

Recovered from the crime scene were two caliber .45 pistols, subversive documents, empty shells, and assorted mobile phones.

While considered a top officer of the CPP-NPA-NDF, Bocala has been overshadowed by his wife’s prominence in the rebel movement.

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

Her arrest carried a P7.8-million reward based on the joint DND-DILG Reward List No. 14-2012 dated Nov 12, 2012.

The arresting team from the CIDG 6 and the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division seized more than P200,000 cash, a fragmentation grenade, a caliber 45 pistol, a caliber .22 revolver, assorted ammunition for caliber .22 and caliber .45, a Toshiba laptop, 13 mobile phones, nine external hard drive, 20 compact discs, a binocular, and a floppy disc.

Concha was later released on bail and flew to Oslo, Norway for the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the NDFP in the same year.

Concha allegedly jumped bail and remains at large when the peace talks fizzled out.