Top alleged NPA leader nabbed in Surigao del Sur

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Joint police and military forces arrested Region 13’s (Caraga) second most wanted member of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barobo town, Surigao del Sur, on Saturday, Sept. 5, police said on Monday.

Police arrested the suspect, identified as alias “Jepoy,” 53, around 9:15 p.m. in Barangay Sudlon.

They said the suspect, a resident of Sitio Emerald in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, was allegedly a former political instructor of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee Southland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

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Police arrested the suspect on the strength of several warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Lianga. The warrants were for three counts of murder, for which no bail was recommended; two counts of frustrated murder, with bail set at P200,000 each; and two counts of attempted murder, with bail set at P100,000 and P120,000.

The operation was led by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office and carried out by personnel from the Barobo Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit 13, 14th Special Action Company of the PNP-Special Action Force, 41st Military Intelligence Company, 1st Surigao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13, and other intelligence units.

Police said they informed the suspect of his constitutional rights under the Miranda doctrine and the Anti-Torture Act. The arrest was also recorded using a body-worn camera.

The suspect remains in the custody of the Barobo police for documentation and proper court disposition.

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Col. Jeffrey Lawrence Mauricio, Surigao del Sur police provincial director, commended the operating units for their intelligence sharing and coordination.

“The capture of a high-ranking CTG leader brings justice closer to the victims of these violent acts and brings us one step closer to achieving total peace in Surigao del Sur,” Mauricio said.

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He added that the police, together with their military counterparts, would continue efforts to locate wanted individuals hiding from the law./coa