Top NPA commander nabbed

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

A New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Iloilo was arrested early morning of Nov. 29, 2019 in Bingawan town.

Efren Vidal alias Pigoy/Paderes, 49, was collared because of several arrest warrants.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 said Vidal is the platoon leader of Madya-as Platoon, formerly known as Tugalbong Platoon, under the NPA’s Chiva Waling Waling Command-Central Front.

The group is led by a certain Francisco Balois alias Tonying of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P).

Vidal initially sent surrender feelers to authorities, but police and military soldiers arrested him upon picking him up at Barangay Poblacion, Bingawan.

Joint elements of the IPPO Provincial Special Operation Group (PSOG), Bingawan Municipal Police Station, the PNP Regional Intelligence Division, and the Philippine Army’s 301st Brigade served to Vidal arrest warrants for two counts of rebellion and three counts of murder.

It was later learned that authorities placed a P150,000 reward for Vidal’s arrest.

He is presently in the custody of IPPO-PSOG for joint custodial debriefing.