NPA leader charged for murder nabbed in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines — A leader of the New People's Army (NPA) who is facing double frustrated murder case was arrested on Monday by security forces in Marikina.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato identified the arrested rebel as Rene Nuyda Jr., secretary of the NPA Bicol Regional Party Committee.

Nuyda, also known by the aliases "John dela Cruz," "Ka Red" and "Sung," was nabbed by combined military and police forces on Paradise Street in Barangay Malanday at around 12:30 a.m.

He was arrested by authority of an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Labo, Camarines Norte. Nuyda's case has a recommended bail of P200,000.

Also arrested was a certain Pedro Canaleta Jr., companion of Nuyda.

Authorities seized a caliber .45 pistol, a magazine for the same pistol, seven pieces of ammunition and two fragmentation grenades.

Also recovered during the law enforcement operation were 13 laptops, 21 cellular phones, five USBs for broadband internet, six USB flash drives, 32 SIM cards, five tablets, 16 memory cards, two personal digital assistants and cash worth P79,000.

Detoyato said Nuyda has been tagged in the ambush of an Army unit on July 14, 2008 at Sitio Nalisbitan, Barangay Dumagmang in Labo, Camarines Norte that left two soldiers wounded.

Nuyda and Canaleta will also be charged with violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Law on Explosives.

There are about 4,000 NPA members in the country, according to latest Army estimates.