WARRANT SERVED. Philippine National Police and military personnel serve the arrest warrants against Joel Montero dela Hilba, 32, a resident of Barangay Unaban, Tago, Surigao del Sur on June 3, 2020 at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City. Authorities identified Dela Hilba, who is wanted for attempted and frustrated murder cases, as a commanding officer of the communist New People's Army operating in Surigao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of SDSPPO)
BUTUAN CITY – Authorities served arrest warrants against an alleged communist New People’s Army (NPA) combatant who was ferried by the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) from Surigao del Sur to Davao Region for treatment late last week.
Col. James Goforth, Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) director, said the arrest warrants against Joel Montero dela Hilba were served by police and Army personnel from Surigao del Sur and Davao del Norte Wednesday (June 3) at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City.
The wounded Dela Hilba, 32, was on a convoy of ICRC vehicles when it was briefly stopped in Lianga town on May 29.
Goforth told the Philippine News Agency Thursday that Dela Hilba is the commanding officer of the Platoon 1, Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) of the NPA's Southern Regional Command (SRC).
A resident of Barangay Unaban, Tago, Surigao del Sur, he allegedly carries the aliases “Kid”, “Viray”, and “Joel Dadang”.
Goforth said the suspect sustained gunshot wounds in his left rib and parietal area in an encounter with government forces last month.
Goforth said Dela Hilba’s identity was confirmed by a former rebel who worked with him inside the communist rebel movement in Surigao del Sur.
The arrest warrants against Dela Hilba were issued by Judge Lilibeth O. Ladaga of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 28 in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, for frustrated murder and attempted murder cases.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) director, said Dela Hilba was placed under hospital arrest.
“We will make sure he receives proper medical treatment for him to fully recover. His safety and security are also our concern,” Esquivel said in a statement on Thursday.
He also reiterated the call for the remaining active NPA members to lay down their arms and avail of the opportunities being offered to them by the government.
“We will continue our efforts to reach out to those who want to lay down their arms,” Esquivel said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
