BACOLOD CITY — An official of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental said more rebels under the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) would be arrested in the province.
“In coordination with the police, there will be more arrests here in Negros. With the active help of the local populace, the CPP-NPA terrorists will be suppressed and defeated,” Lt. Col. Patricio Tomales, commanding officer of 15th Infantry Battalion based in the southern town of Cauayan, said in a statement on Saturday.
This, after the recent arrest of suspected communist rebel Joebert Herrera, who has been identified as a platoon leader of the NPA’s South West Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros.
Both the military and the police confirmed over the weekend the arrest of Herrera, 36, at his residence in Sitio Cambogui-ot, Barangay Camindangan in the neighboring Sipalay City on Oct. 4.
The suspect has arrest warrants for multiple frustrated murder and murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Kabankalan City on Oct. 25, 2012.
Herrera, who was denied bail, is detained at the Sipalay City Police Station.
Tomales said the arrest of Herrera was a result of the coordination between law enforcement agencies and the cooperation of the people.
He added that the 15th IB will continue with its counter-terrorist operations for the safety and security of the people in the area they cover and also to attain peace and security in Negros Island. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
