Ranking NPA member nabbed in Las Piñas

MANILA, Philippines - A ranking member of the communist movement was arrested yesterday in Las Piñas City.

Reynante Gamara, alias Ka Mike, 54, did not resist arrest when cornered by joint elements of the military intelligence and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the Star mall at around 1:30 p.m.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said Gamara, secretary of the Metro Manila Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has a pending warrant of arrest for murder issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Mauban, Quezon.

Gamara’s companion, Santiago Maleta, was also arrested for preventing government operatives from serving the arrest warrant.

Pagdilao said Gamara’s arrest was part of the CIDG’s “Oplan Pagtugis,” a nationwide drive against fugitives.

As of last month, the CIDG has accounted for 303 wanted persons, 49 of whom were charged with heinous crimes.

Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel, head of CIDG-National Capital Region, said Gamara was charged for the killing of Army Private First Class Eriberto Eclavea and Richard Cortizano, alias Ka Troy, a rebel returnee.

Also charged for the murder were Tirso Alcantara, alias Ka Bart, regional operation commander of the CPP in Southern Tagalog and Rosemarie Domanais. Alcantara was arrested in Quezon province on Jan. 5 last year.

Coronel said Gamara succeeded Filemon Lagman, who was killed at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 2001.