In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

NPA rebel nabbed, another yield in Zamboanga Peninsula

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

July 28, 2022, 6:17 pm

<p>Google map of the Zamboanga Peninsula.</p>

Google map of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A long-time New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was arrested while another surrendered to government authorities here in the Zamboanga Peninsula, police officials said Thursday.

The arrested rebel was identified as Mido Mandasay, 70, who had been an NPA rebel for the past 40 years, while the one who surrendered is Roger Paglinawan, 49, who turned himself in to Zamboanga Sibugay authorities.

Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9), said Mandasay was arrested in an intelligence-driven operation around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Nasibac, Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte.

Seized from Mandasay was an Ingram sub-machinegun with ammunition.

Meanwhile, Col. Albert Larubis, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said Paglinawan surrendered in Barangay Guinoman of Diplahan municipality around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Larubis said Paglinawan has served as the courier of foodstuff and other essential supplies of the NPA’s Main Regional Guerrilla Unit, the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

He said Paglinawan's surrender was a setback for the remaining NPA rebels in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Following his surrender, Paglinawan took an oath of allegiance in the presence of police and government officials in Diplahan.

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.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)

Comments