ARRESTED. Digna Mateo, a former officer of the New People's Army, was arrested inside the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in Meralco Village, Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan on Wednesday (Oct. 16, 2019). Mateo is included in the police's Periodic Status Report on Threat Groups in 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office)
CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan -- A former high-ranking officer of the New People's Army (NPA) and coordinator of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in this province was arrested inside the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in Meralco Village, Barangay Lias, Marilao town on Wednesday.
Col. Chito G. Bersaluna, provincial director of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, said Digna Mateo with aliases "Digna", "Aide", "Aye", "Yesa" and "Hillary", 58, single and a resident of 181 Tumana Street, Santa Maria, Bulacan, was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest.
Bersaluna said Mateo is reportedly a former deputy secretary of the Bulacan provincial committee/executive committee of Central Luzon Regional Committee and included in the watch list under the Periodic Status Report on Threat Groups (PSRTG) in 2019.
Based on the report by Police Lt. Col. Augusto Asuncion, chief of Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), Mateo was arrested during a joint operation conducted by the PIB, together with the intelligence units of AFP as well as the police personnel of Meycauayan City and Marilao at around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday for the crime of murder issued by Judge Isidra A. Arganosa-Maniego of Regional Trial Court, Third Judicial Region, Branch 7, Malolos City on October 20, 2016, with no bail recommended.
The warrant of arrest was served upon positive identification of Mateo by one of the intelligence operatives upon her arrival at the church.
Seized from the accused are subversive documents used for the propaganda of the communist terrorist group (CTG).
Mateo was involved in the armed encounter with 56th Infantry Batallion (IB) troops in Barangay Paradise 3, City of San Jose Del Monte, this province sometime in April 2011 which resulted in the death of Corporal Michael B. Reyes.
The accused was with nine other NPA members led by Joselito Cadines alias Ka Tagco during the encounter.
"She is now under the custody of Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Branch in Camp General Alejo Santos for proper disposition prior to her turnover to the court of origin," Bersaluna said. (PNA)
