Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. (Google)
BUTUAN CITY – Two members of the New Peoples Army were among the six most wanted persons arrested during a police operation in the Caraga region Thursday.
Major Jennifer Ometer, chief of the Public Information Office of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) identified the NPA members as Nelson Tinan-ogan Binongkasan, alias "Toman", and his wife, Ednalyn Tejero Binongkasan.
“They are active members of the NPA movement in the region who are subject to arrest warrants issued by the courts for the crimes they committed,” Ometer said in an interview.
The two were arrested Thursday afternoon at K. 6, Sitio Balaatan, Barangay Camagong in Nasipit town, Agusan del Norte province by the operatives of PRO-13 Intelligence Division, Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office, and Nasipit and Lianga Police Stations. Their arrest was based on multiple warrants issued against them by different courts in Agusan del Sur.
Binongkasan is facing two charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention at Bayugan City Regional Trial Court Branch 7; a murder case; and seven attempted murder cases at the Lianga RTC Branch 28, both in Agusan del Sur.
His wife is also facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention at the Bayugan City RTC Branch 7.
“Nelson Binongkasan is considered Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) priority target regional top most wanted person for Murder,” said PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II in a separate statement Saturday.
He added that Binongkasan also serves as the third junior adviser of the MAPASU (Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod), a local organization of indigenous peoples in Surigao del Sur suspected of having links with the NPA.
He also serves as the team leader of Guerrilla Front Committee 19 (GFC-19), North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the NPA operating in the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.
“He actively participated in different CTG-initiated hostile activities under the operational sphere of GFC-19, NEMRC, particularly the harassments of Army and police installations and patrol bases and in several armed encounters with government troops,” Labra said.
Meanwhile, four other most wanted persons in the region with standing arrest warrants for murder were also arrested during the conduct of police operations on Thursday.
Among the four suspects was Bimboy Judyawon Casawitan, 33, the leader of a criminal gang engaged in robbery, extortion, and illegal logging in Agusan del Norte.
Casawitan was arrested based on warrant for murder issue by the Branch 34 of Cabadbaran City Regional Trial Court in Agusan del Norte. (PNA)
