SEIZED. Police arrested two suspected members of the New People's Army in Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato in Ayungon late Monday afternoon (July 29, 2019), following an encounter between government troops and alleged NPA members in the adjacent town of Bindoy. Recovered from the two suspects were two .38-caliber revolvers without serial numbers, a rifle grenade, two sets of bombs, a piece bandolier, an eco-bag, and a plastic bag. (Photo courtesy of Ayungon Police Station)
DUMAGUETE CITY -- Policemen arrested two alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) late Monday afternoon hours after a clash with a group of suspected rebels in Barangay Mabato in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) identified the suspects as Rico Cadelina Oracoy, 39, and Lito Anadon Cadusale, 51, both farmers and residents of Sitio Yamot in Barangay Mabato, the same area where the four policemen were shot dead last July 18 by alleged NPA members.
The two were arrested around 5 p.m. by a joint team of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 (RFMB7), the 704th Maneuver Company and the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Philippine National Police and the Bravo Company of the 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, acting as blocking force and conducted clearing operations following an encounter that took place in the morning.
The encounter was reported at around 9:20 a.m. at Sitio Talaplatapan in Barangay Nalundan, Bindoy, a town adjacent to Ayungon, where members of the RFMB7 Striking Force on a combat operation, engaged in a 20-minute firefight with an undetermined number of suspected NPA rebels.
Recovered from the two suspects were two .38-caliber revolvers without serial numbers, a rifle grenade, two sets of bombs, a piece bandolier, an eco-bag, and a plastic bag.
Maj. Romel Luga, Ayungon police chief, said they are preparing the filing of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the suspects who are now in jail.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
