P5.2M reward top NPA rebel leader nabbed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Despite the ongoing holiday ceasefire between the government and the rebels, the military arrested a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leader who has a P5.2-million reward on his head.

Arrested last December 25 was Felimon Mendrez, alias Tatay and Edon, who is an alleged ranking NPA leader in Central Visayas and also ranked No. 6 among most wanted persons in the country.

He was arrested in Brgy. Tubod of Manjuyod town in Negros Oriental by a combined team of the 302nd Infantry Brigade and the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, by virtue of arrest warrants for rebellion and robbery-in-band.

Captain Aniceto Naz, 302nd Infantry  Brigade civil-military operations officer, said Mendrez presently occupied the position of deputy secretary of the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee and at the same time commander of the Regional Strike Force-Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros.

Major General Jose Mabanta Jr., commanding general of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, justified the arrest of Mendrez, saying that “law enforcement operations shall continue even as we observe a suspension of military operation and ceasefire”.

“This is part of your security forces of protecting communities, government and private establishment,” Mabanta added.

Being a commander of the major regional NPA unit responsible for the conduct of large tactical offensives in Negros Island, Naz claimed that Mendrez was directly involved in the attack and burning of a military outpost in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Aug. 28, 2010.

The rebel attackers, disguising themselves as members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, seized 23 high-powered firearms after killing the detachment commander, in front of his horrified daughter and government militiamen, military records show.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo said the military and the police are always on guard especially on the protection of vital installations, commercial facilities and business establishments.

“We have known the communists-terrorists would highlight the celebration,” Garbo said, adding that the sole problem of the law enforcers in terms of insurgency is Negros Island.

“I know Mendrez was a big loss to the (rebels) organization considering that he was number two in most wanted in Central Visayas,” Garbo said. (FREEMAN)