2 NPA officials fall in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines — A couple suspected of being members of the Communist Terrorist Group New People's Army (CTG-NPA) was arrested by the authorities Saturday in Purok 7, Barangay Gulang, Getafe town, Bohol.

They were identified as Reynaldo Leuga Camacho, 50, who also allegedly possesses six aliases, and his wife, Carmelita Geraldez Cañeda,48.

They were arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued against them last November 29 for murder. Reynaldo is also accused of murder before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 47 in Tagbilaran City.

According to Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, PRO-7 director, Reynaldo was the secretary of the Kometing Rehiyonal Central Visayas (KR-CENVIS), Central Visayas Regional Operational Command (CENVIS ROC) Commander, Kometing Rehiyonal Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor (KR-NCBS) Regional Finance Tax Implementing Group, Staff of the National Operation Command (NOC) and currently the National Finance Commission Staff of the Communist Terrorist Group.

Reynaldo's wife was also allegedly part of the current National Finance Commission Operations Group for the Visayas of the CTG.

With the following positions that the couple has taken, Ferro said that the couple is considered high-ranking members of the NPA. They also handled the finance area of the group, which according to Ferro, they were able to get from the legitimate business personalities, particularly in Central Visayas.

The couple underwent inquest proceedings yesterday morning.

Ferro also said that the arrest of the couple spells a great loss for the organization.

"Finance committee of the New People's Army (NPA) is very critical —it's the lifeline or the blood line of the communist terrorist group (CTG). Meaning to say, kung wala kang pera you cannot make move," said Ferro.

According to Police Colonel Jonathan Cabal, chief of Bohol Provincial Police Office, the couple was operating outside Bohol since the province has been declared as insurgency-free and the CTG persona non grata last September 2019.

Cabal added that they have been monitoring the couple for a month before they were arrested for the ambush and murder of Second Lieutenant Cue and 12 other AFP members in Sagbayan town in the year 2000.

Aid the arrest, authorities said that the Central Visayas is still a safe place to live in. (FREEMAN)