(Photo courtesy of NCRPO)
MANILA – A communist terrorist group (CTG) leader in Eastern Samar was arrested in a police operation in Manila on Monday afternoon, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday.
Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., NCRPO chief, identified the suspect as Rodel Mabahin, alias 'Ka Rico', 21, who is also listed as Samar province's sixth most wanted person.
Danao said the operation stemmed from information obtained through surveillance of the suspect which resulted in the validation of his identity and whereabouts.
Mabahin was arrested by joint operatives of NCRPO and personnel of the Calbiga Municipal Police Station (MPS) around 1 p.m. at the corner of A. H. Lacson Ave. and Jocson St. in Sampaloc, Manila.
The suspect has warrants of arrest for carnapping with violence/intimidation, serious illegal detention, robbery, and theft issued by the Calbiga, Samar Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 33 and the Calbiga-Hinabangan, Samar 7th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC).
Based on reports, Danao said the suspect escaped from the Calbiga MPS in 2019 and carted away high-powered firearms and ammunition, two mobile phones, and a motorcycle.
He then went to Metro Manila and hid for two years.
Mabahin, also known as 'Kumander Didit', is a platoon leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Eastern Samar. He has taken medical, sniper, and bomb-making courses and has been involved in operations of the NPA hit squad known as the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) in Samar since 2015.
Mabahin is now under the custody of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the NCRPO for documentation and proper disposition.
"Napag-alaman natin na ang akusado ay konektado sa communist terrorist group at matagal ng nagtatago sa batas. Sisiguraduhin namin na magkakaroon ng mga debriefing upang makakuha pa tayo ng mga sapat na impormasyon ukol sa kanilang mga gawain at matunton ang iba pa niyang kasamahan na maaaring nagtatago pa sa batas (We have learned that the accused is connected with the communist terrorist group and has long been hiding from the law. We will make sure that there will be debriefings so that we can get more information about their activities and track his other cohorts who may still be hiding from the law)," Danao said. (PNA)
