NPA leader nabbed in Bohol

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A suspected rebel leader of the liquidation unit of the New People’s Army, who is facing a rebellion charge in Negros Oriental, and his companion were arrested Tuesday evening in Barangay Alegria, Catigbian in Bohol.

The suspects were identified as Ruben Nabas (alias Ebyong/Elmer/Padi/Rex), leader of Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) of the NPA and a certain Cristituto Lastomen (alias Onyot), also a member of the SPARU.

A press release from the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, said the two were arrested for illegal possession of firearms in Barangay Alegria at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at a  checkpoint conducted jointly by the police and the military in the area.

Confiscated from their possession were a .45-caliber pistol and a .9mm Berretta pistol, P18,220 cash and several suspected subversive documents.

Nabas has a standing warrant of arrest for rebellion filed at the Regional Trial Court-branch 63 in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. He was allegedly a former vice commander of the elite force of the NPAs operating in the hinterlands of southern Negros Oriental.

He and his companions were believed to be responsible for the attack of two PNP camps in Bohol in 1999, which led to the loss of several firearms from the government side.

Nabas was also allegedly responsible for the bombing of two newly constructed transmission line towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines at Barangay Sta. Catalina in Sagbayan, Bohol on December 13, 2011 and in Barangay Sto. Niño, San Miguel, Bohol on June 24, 2012.

Furthermore, Nabas is allegedly the triggerman in the killing of Chief Insp. Pelecio Domino, Talibon (Bohol) Police chief, said the 302nd IBde.  (FREEMAN)