Wanted NPA rebel tagged in Binalbagan ambush arrested

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) wanted for four counts of frustrated murder was arrested in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.

Police and military troopers served an arrest warrant against a certain “Rey,” 29, of the said village, a farmer.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Grande, city police chief, said Rey was an alleged member of Central Negros 2 (CN2), Komiteng Rehiyon-Rehiyon Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor (KR-NCBS) Centro de Gravidad Platoon.

He was allegedly involved in an ambush that wounded two policemen and a 15-year-old bystander in Sitio Candida, Barangay Biao, Binalbagan town in February 2022.

The ambush, which led to an encounter, happened while 10 policemen on board a patrol car were on their way to a village where a man was found dead.

The arrest warrant was issued and signed by Presiding Judge Walter Zorilla of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55 in Himamaylan City, dated September 26, 2023.

The court recommended P200,000 balil for each case for his provisional liberty, according to Grande.

The operation was supported by the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc), and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6.

Grande said the Army helped them in intelligence monitoring, and when they positively sighted the suspect, the operation was conducted.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, commended the diligent efforts of the Himamaylan City Police Station and collaborating units for the swift and efficient execution of this arrest.

“Our commitment to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our communities remains unwavering,” he said.