NPA leader, 2 others arrested

A ranking officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), who carried a P1-million bounty on his head, was arrested along with two others in Abra recently.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said Edgar Molina, alias Ka Dong and Bobby, was nabbed last Monday in Barangay Buneg, Lacub, Abra by virtue of a court-issued warrant of arrest.

Verzosa said Molina was a former deputy secretary of the Abra Party Committee and concurrent commanding officer of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya operating in Abra and Ilocos Sur.

Molina is facing criminal charges for murder and multiple frustrated murder.

Verzosa said two other NPA officers Edwin Balawag, alias Ka Bagyan, and Rosemarie Domingo alias Ka Ramses, both operating in northern Abra, were also taken into custody.

Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman said the arrest of the three communist leaders is in line with Case Operation Plan “Hunter” which the PNP launched to account for wanted persons. – Jun Elias, Cecille Suerte Felipe and Charlie Lagasca