3 rebels nabbed in Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Three communist rebels, including two ranking members, were arrested in separate military operations in southern Luzon.

A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) local defense unit has been nabbed in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur for illegal custody of war material, Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) spokesman Lt. Col. Lloyd Cabacungan said yesterday.

The suspect, identified as Jebe Adote Alarcon, was captured in Barangay Pinamihagan, one of the Southern Luzon areas facing threats from the insurgents.

Authorities recovered an M14 rifle, 2,200 pieces of live ammunitions and four pieces of black ammunitions for Cal 5.56mm, 13 pieces of live ammunitions for Ca 7.62mm, one magazine assembly 20-round capacity for M14, and one directional compass from the suspect.

Other items seized were  one blasting cap, one detonator, one compact disc, eight pieces of SIM cards, one Acer projector accessory, one transistor radio with compact antenna, one DVD player antenna, four  headsets, two USB cables, wires and rebel documents.

Alarcon and the confiscated war materials were brought to Lagonoy Municipal Police Station for documentation and filing of charges.

Meanwhile, two NPA leaders were apprehended over the weekend in Naga City and Quezon province.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said a certain George Geluz was nabbed by security forces in a checkpoint in Gumaca, Quezon on Saturday.

Geluz is the secretary of the Bicol Regional Party Committee and was apprehended by virtue of arrest warrants for robbery in band with arson and double frustrated murder.

Another NPA leader, identified as Sylvestre Layones was captured by government troops Sunday in Legazpi City, Albay.

Layones, head of the NPA Regional Urban Committee, is facing a murder case and is now under police custody.

SOLCOM chief Lt. Gen. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo called on the other communist rebels to abandon the armed struggle and to return to mainstream society.

“It’s not yet too late for them to surrender and to start a new life. We are ready to help those who are willing to return to normal lives,” he said in Filipino. – Alexis Romero with C. Maglaque