Agusan’s most wanted NPA rebel nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — Agusan del Norte’s most wanted New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, who is facing multiple criminal cases in various courts, was arrested in a police and military operation early yesterday morning.

Joaquin Madrianon, alias Alto or Junjun, an intelligence and commanding officer of the NPA’s special partisan unit for Western Agusan del Norte – Agusan del Sur sub-regional command, was nabbed at his alleged hideout in Barangay Tagcatong in Carmen, Agusan del Norte at around 4:30 a.m.

Maj. Ronald Putol, civil-military operations officer of the Philippine Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade, said Madrianon is also listed as the second most wanted criminal in the province.

As this developed, Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr., commanding officer of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion, thanked “concerned citizens who bravely provided positive and timely information to the authorities about the activities and whereabouts of (Madrianon).”

“As the protector of the people, we always abide by and adhere to the rules of the law by using lawful and peaceful means of capturing the perpetrators in order to prevent their hostile plans in conducting atrocities in the community,” Molina added. – With Non Alquitran, Emmanuel Tupas