Photos courtesy of PNP-CIDG.
TRECE MARTIRES CITY -- Joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), local police and military units arrested a ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and his wife in Bacoor City shortly after midnight Thursday.
Senior Supt. William M. Segun, Cavite provincial police director, identified the arrested suspects as Rey Claro Casambre, 67, a regular member of CPP’s Central Committee and his wife Patricia , 65, Patricia, 65, executive director of the Philippine Peace Center. Both are residents of 15 Damian corner Dagohoy Sts., Molino, Bacoor City.
Casambre is said to be the CPP’s National Education Department secretary and a member of the National Democratic Front (NDF) Negotiating Panel.
He is also the head of the National United Front and the one orchestrating all activities of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) and other “legal fronts” of the CPP.
Casambre is also alleged to be the main actor in the MAT (Movement Against Tyranny) and other destabilization plots.
The couple was arrested aboard a silver Toyota Altis (XKS 821) while cruising along Barangay Niyog, Molino Boulevard, this city at about 12:10 a.m. Friday.
Casambre's arrest was based on warrants for murder under Criminal Case No. 2520-18 and attempted murder (two counts) under Criminal Cases No. 2521; 2522-18 dated Nov. 23, 2018, all issued by Presiding Judge Emilio G. Dayanghirang III of Regional Trial Court, Branch 32 of Lupon, Davao Oriental.
The serving of warrants was led by CIDG-National Capital Region together with operatives from CIDG 4-A, Cavite Provincial Police Office, Joint Task force-NCR, 202nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army; the 730th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The arresting team also seized from the suspect a Colt Commander .45-caliber pistol with one magazine, seven live ammunitions, one bundle of detonating cord; a fragmentation grenade; two cellphones; one MacBook laptop; PHP6,000 cash and the Toyota Altis car.
The arrested suspects were taken to the CIDG-NCR office in Camp Crame for documentation and proper action.
Last month, operatives of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and military team arrested NDF consultant Vicente Ladlad and his two companions, Alberto and Virginia Villamor in raid in Quezon City.
The raid was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 89 Judge Cecilyn E. Burgos-Villavert against the three suspects for violation of RA 10591.
Recovered from the raid were two assault rifles, two .45-caliber pistols, one .9mm-caliber pistol, hundreds of rounds of ammunition for said firearms, four hand grenades, electronic equipment, and subversive documents. (with reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
