KILLED IN SHOOTOUT. An alleged member of the communist New People’s Army identified as Cecel Nuñez, 59, dies in a shootout with police officers serving arrest warrants against him at his residence in Barangay Trinidad, Surigao City, early morning Wednesday (Jan. 20, 2021). Police recovered a .38-caliber revolver with ammunition and a hand grenade from the slain suspect, authorities say. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – An alleged member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a shootout with police officers during a predawn law enforcement operation in Surigao City on Wednesday.
The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) identified the slain suspect as 59-year-old Cecel Nuñez, a resident of Barangay Trinidad, Surigao City.
“Nuñez is facing two murder charges with arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 in Surigao City,” said Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., the PRO-13 director.
Caramat said police officers belonging to the Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (SDNPPO) and Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) had tried to serve Nuñez the arrest warrants. Nuñez allegedly opened fire on the authorities, prompting them to fire back.
According to Caramat, Nuñez was an assistant team leader of the NPA's Guerrilla Front 16.
“He is also the Top 5 wanted person of SDNPPO and listed in the third quarter of 2020 Periodic Status Report in the province,” the police official added.
Caramat said Nuñez was also one of the suspects in the killing of Elmer Madrona and Bertoldo Rangas in 2019 in Barangay Tagbayani, Sison, Surigao del Norte.
“We laud the joint operation that led to the neutralization of the suspect. We maintain our aggressive efforts on the filing of cases and the implementation of warrants of arrest against Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members who are involved in the commission of crimes and illegal activities,” the PRO-13 chief said. (PNA)
