GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Police arrested in Alabel town, Sarangani Province over the weekend an alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) who was tagged in the abduction of two Army troopers in Sultan Kudarat last year.
Senior Insp. Benjie Ancheta, Alabel police chief, said Tuesday they arrested Gideon Colano alias “Kumander Rebo,” 43, in an operation late Sunday evening in Sitio Nop of Barangay Spring.
Ancheta said the suspect was reportedly a leader of the NPA’s Front 72 that operates in the Sultan Kudarat town of Columbio town and neighboring areas.
Ancheta said Colano was arrested based on a warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by Tacurong City Regional Trial Court Judge Melanio Guerrero.
The case stemmed from the abduction of Sgt. Solaiman Calocop and Private First Class Samuel Garay of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Telafas, Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat on Feb. 2, 2017.
Calocop and Garay were released two months later by the NPA’s Mt. Alip Command in Davao del Sur province.
Ancheta said they earlier received a tip from an informant about the presence of Colano in Sitio Nop.
“He was in the area because his parents and some relatives residing there,” he said in a radio interview.
In March, an alleged NPA leader voluntarily surrendered to personnel from the Alabel municipal police station following a negotiation.
Returnee Johnny Magdasal Blase alias Janjan, a resident of Barangay Domolok, was reportedly a vice team leader of Platoon 2 of the NPA’s Front 75. (PNA)
