By Alexander Lopez | Philippine News Agency
BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office – Caraga (PRO-13) on Saturday, Jan. 29, reported the arrest of a former leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) who has been in hiding for more than three years.
In a statement, PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said Reynaldo Y. Gaan, 38, was arrested by Cabadbaran City police in Barangay Mahaba in Agusan del Norte.
He said Gaan, a former team leader of the NPA’s Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 21C of Guerrilla Front 51, has an arrest warrant for attempted murder issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 33 in Butuan City.
“Reynaldo Gaan was among those who ambushed and landmine nine members of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit under the 29th Infantry Battalion 29IB who were conducting combat patrol at around 6:30 in the morning on Nov. 29, 2018, in Barangay San Antonio, Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte,” Caramat said.
Gaan is now under the custody of the Cabadbaran City Police.
In Agusan del Sur, the former leader of Squad 2, SYP Platoon of Dismantled Guerrilla Front 88, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA surrendered to the Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (ADSPPO) on Friday, Jan. 28.
Caramat identified the surrenderer as Alias JB, 34, of San Luis town.
“Alias JB’s name is listed in the First Quarter Periodic Status Report and included in the Common Priority Database list,” Caramat said.
Alias JB, who also handed over to the ADSPPO a cal. 30 Garand rifle with a defaced serial number, will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government. (PNA) – bny
