PNP warns politicians coddling kidnappers, rebels

MANILA, Philippines — A case build-up is being conducted against politicians suspected of supporting and protecting kidnapping syndicates and the New People’s Army (NPA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said these politicians are committing heinous crimes by getting involved in these illegal activities.

“Charges await politicians who support and protect the kidnappers and NPA,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino during a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday.?“We are on a case build up. It’s being used for fund-raising and politicking, to kill and intimidate political rivals,” he added.

Dela Rosa said the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group initiated a probe after a self-cofessed NPA leader was arrested in Obando, Bulacan over the weekend.

The suspect, identified as Donato Jacob alias Jonas Dondon, reportedly admitted to Dela Rosa that he was a leader of the NPA-Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP) operating in Bulacan.

Jacob has been tagged in several kidnapping activities and the killing of an officer of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG).

“He serves as collector of the NPA during extortion activities against politicians and operators of fishponds and quarries in the area,” Dela Rosa said.

Jacob was said to be a member of a group that killed Supt. Arthur Masungsong of the PNP-AKG during a rescue operation of a kidnap victim in December.

The suspect was arrested by joint elements of the PNP-AKG, Intelligence Group and Malabon police in Barangay Panghulo based on a warrant signed by Malolos Judge Teodora Gonzales for the crime of robbery with intimidation. 

Meanwhile, the AKG also arrested Brandall Mark Cacatian in connection with a series of kidnapping cases since 2012.

The AKG said Cacatian ranked eighth in its list of most wanted persons.

The suspect was arrested in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City on Feb. 21.

3 troopers cited

Three troopers from the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion received the Gold Cross award for neutralizing three alleged NPA leaders in Capiz.

The soldiers, who refused to be named for security reasons, shot dead Remy Beraye, Federico Diaz and Allan Lerona alias Felizardo Cerilo during an encounter in Cuartero town in November.

The suspects were reportedly officials of the NPA’s Nonito Aguirre Sr. Command.

The military said Beraye was a former chairman of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) at the West Visayas State University in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Diaz and Lerona were reportedly vice commander and finance logistics officers, respectively, of the Sangay Partido sa Platon of the NPA’s Eastern Front Committee in Panay, the military said.

The award was given during the 35th anniversary celebration of the 301st Infantry Brigade at Camp Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo.

The Gold Cross, the fourth highest military award, recognizes the soldiers’ act of heroism.   – With Jennifer Rendon