Camp Rafael C Rodriguez, Butuan City —— The finance officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Komisyon Mindanao was arrested yesterday in Barangay Limaha, Butuan City, PBGEN JOSELITO T ESQUIVEL JR said in a statement.
Nori L Torregosa, 37, resident of Purok 1, Brgy Maasin, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, and Intelligence Staff of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee was arrested together with his live-in partner, Melissa A Comiso, 38 years old, and finance officer of the CPP-NPA Komisyon Mindanao (KOMMID), by joint elements of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office (PRO13) 13, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 13, Butuan City Police Station 1 and 2 at 6:30PM.
PBGEN Esquivel Jr said Torregosa was arrested on the strength of a search warrant dated October 10, 2019 issued by Presiding Judge Emmanuel E Escatron of the Regional Trial Court Branch 4 of Butuan City for Loose Firearm.
Comiso is in charge for the management of the collection and distribution of extortion money in Mindanao while Torregosa is responsible to collect, compile or analyze information.
Yielded during the search were two hand grenades, a caliber .45 pistol, six .45 caliber ammunition, magazine, a caliber .38 revolver, three caliber .38 ammunition, five blasting cap assembly with wire connector and switches, one rolled detonating cord, four Laptops, five cellular phones, suspected subversive documents, and Passport.
Torregosa and Comiso, have lot knowledge about the extortion activities, not only in Caraga, but the entire Mindanao.
“We hope that they will cooperate with the investigating team in identifying individuals, business institutions and groups that are providing financial support to the CPP-NPA terrorists,” PBGEN Esquivel Jr said.
“The successful Law Enforcement Operation is the product of collaboration and partnership of the community and the PNP Caraga. The government’s efforts against the CPP-NPA terrorists are relentless and we will not stop here until we can ensure the safety and security of the Caraganons,” he added.
Gen Esquivel Jr also urged other NPA rebels who are still with the communist underground movement to surrender and avail the government’s peace and reconciliatory initiatives.
