NPA leader arrested in Bicol

MANILA, Philippines - Government security forces arrested an alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Matnog, Sorsogon last Friday.

The arrest of Arsenio Guellas, who uses the aliases Ka Gapa and Ka Insoy, came as the Armed Forces of the Philippines braced for possible attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines, which is celebrating its 46th founding anniversary today. The NPA is the CPP’s armed wing.

Guellas was said to be the commanding officer of the NPA’s provincial operational command in Sorsogon.

The military has been on alert since noon yesterday until tomorrow to thwart possible attacks by the rebels.

Aside from being an NPA leader, the military tagged Guellas as a member of the executive committee of the Bicol regional party command of the CPP.

“Guellas was arrested at the house of a certain Ricky Gardo in Barangay Ginablan Occidental at about 11:40 a.m.,” AFP public affairs office  chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.

A caliber .45 pistol and bullets, a magazine for an Ingram machine pistol and an improvised explosive device were seized by the Army and police troops from Guellas.

Cabunoc said Guellas faces murder and frustrated murder charges.