Ranking NPA leader nabbed in Pampanga

LUBAO, Pampanga — A ranking New People’s Army (NPA) officer, who was linked to the killings of two barangay captains in this town and a leader of a rival communist group, was captured in Barangay San Francisco here the other day.

The NPA officer, Bernardo Bitong, 36, alias Joshua and Jolas, was nabbed along with an Aeta companion, Eduardo Abuque, 34, who himself was alleged to have killed an Air Force soldier last August, according to Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police director.

Berroya said Bitong is reportedly the assistant secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA’s Pampanga party committee.

Bitong is also said to be a member of the executive committee of the regional CPP-NPA, and secretary of the Kilusan sa Larangan Gerilya operating in northwestern Pampanga.

Bitong and Abuque were captured by joint operatives of the provincial and Lubao police, the 69th Infantry Battalion and the 44th Infantry Command.

Berroya said Bitong is the principal suspect in the killing of Reynaldo Lagman, finance officer of the breakaway Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan (RHB) last Aug. 9. He was also implicated in the 1999 slays of two barangay heads here.

Bitong admitted being an NPA member, but denied having any hand in the killings. Abuque, on the other hand, insisted he was a member of the Central Luzon Aetas Association, and not the NPA.

Investigators said Abuque is facing murder charges for the killing of one M/Sgt. De la Torres of the Air Force last August in Porac. — With Ric Sapnu