2 alleged NPA leaders fall

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), wanted for a string of crimes, were arrested with a cache of weapons in Quezon City yesterday.

Julieta Gomez and Niezel Velasco, both 39, were arrested by joint teams from the police and military in Barangay Pansol at around 1:30 a.m., according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Gomez and Velasco are allegedly the secretary and regional liaison of the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Gomez is the subject of arrest warrants issued by courts for murder, attempted murder, attempted homicide and violation of Republic Act 9851 or Crimes against International Humanitarian Law. Velasco is facing charges of attempted murder.

Police said the suspects yielded four M4 5.56 rifles, a 9mm pistol, two hand grenades, a smoke grenade, 10 rifle barrels and at least 1,000 rounds of ammunition for AK47 rifles.

Also allegedly recovered from the two were two cell phones, an NPA flag and what police described as subversive documents.

“This is not only the effort of the PNP but we are being given information in coordination with other stakeholders,” Eleazar said in a press conference.

Eleazar has ordered an investigation to determine where the two obtained the weapons in their possession.

“We have information that they are responsible for the acquisition and transport of the ammunition and guns,” he said in Filipino.

Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the two are involved in the finance and logistics of the NPA, responsible for seeking war materials.

Ferro said they are conducting an investigation on where the suspects were headed at the time of their arrest.