Charges filed vs NPAs for raid on Surigao mining site

MANILA, Philippines - Police have filed charges of robbery in band and arson against 16 leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 120 others behind the attack at the mining site of Platinum Group Metal Corp. (PGMC) in Surigao del Norte last October.

Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the filing of charges against the NPA raiders shows that they would not leave the impunity of criminal elements go unpunished even in remote areas in Mindanao.

Among those charged before the office of Surigao City prosecutor Jesse Rey Silvosa were NPA leaders Jorge Madlos, spokesman of the Mindanao Committee; Myrna Sularte, secretary of the North Eastern Mindanao Committee; Nando Robuca; Rommel Salinas; Pablo Logatiman; Edilborte Reponte Dabal; and a certain Bea, Daday, Rudy, Nayan, Grace, Liam, Owen/Jong, Joseph, Cris, and Tomas.

Superintendent Bowenn Joey Masauding, CIDG-Caraga chief, said the 16 NPA leaders were positively identified by witnesses as those who led the attack at the PGMC mining site in Cadianao, Claver town last Oct. 3.

Pagdilao lauded the CIDG-Caraga, particularly the Surigao del Norte unit, for their thorough investigation that led to the filing of charges against the NPA leaders.

Records show that Madlos and Sularte have pending arrest warrants for other NPA atrocities in Northern Mindanao.

During the Claver raid, 18 trucks and other equipment worth more than P2 billion were destroyed.

The NPA raiders also carted away seven 9-mm pistols, seven shotguns, three .38-caliber revolvers, 3 KG-9 rifles, and radio and office equipment worth P423,000.