NPA’s ‘fund handler’ nabbed in Sultan Kudarat

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — A woman who reportedly helped bankroll funds for New People’s Army guerrillas has been arrested in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.

Aileen Villarosa, 41, of Cagayan de Oro City, was arrested on Saturday in Barangay Poblacion by police officers from Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) as well as agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Soccsksargen police director, said they did not immediately announce the arrest of Villarosa to give informers, who helped locate the suspect, enough time to move out of the town for their safety.

Villarosa is reportedly an employee of a non-government organization that has community projects in Northern Mindanao.

The suspect reportedly left Cagayan de Oro and hid in Kalamansig after learning that authorities have filed criminal cases against her in different courts in the region.