ZAMBOANGA CITY – A senior leader of the communist rebel group New People’s Army was arrested at a military checkpoint in the southern Philippines, security officials announced on Saturday.
Officials said the rebel leader, Mario Cabatlao, is the Secretary of the NPA’s Front 15 Committee in Mindanao. He was arrested Friday afternoon in Madaum village in Tagum City where military and policemen put up a checkpoint after receiving reports that Cabatlao would pass in the area.
Army Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said a fragmentation grenade and an improvised explosive were recovered from Cabatlao.
He said Cabatlao is facing multiple murder charges and was linked to many killings in the towns of Baganga, Manay, Caraga and Taragona, all in Davao Oriental province where rebel forces staged attacks against government troops and civilians in recent years.
Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, 10th ID commander, praised the arrest of the rebel leader and vowed to continue government operations aimed at defeating communist insurgency in Mindanao.
Cabatlao is the third rebel leader captured by authorities since early this year in Mindanao.
Rebel commander Zaldy Canete was captured in January in Davao del Norte province. Next was rebel leader, Renelo Creita, arrested last month and tagged by the military as behind ambush of soldiers and civilians in Compostela Valley province in May.
Both Canete and Creita are also facing multiple murder charges in connection with the rebel attacks in the provinces.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.—Al Jacinto/JV
