NPA-Panay leader arrested in Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines – The police and military forces arrested a high-ranked leader of the New People's Army in Panay Island at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old Norberto Castor, with aliases Marlon and Greg, was arrested at Barangay Calaboa in Leganes town of Iloilo by virtue of an arrest warrant, issued by Regional Trial Court-6 Judge Guillen Delfin Lim, for Criminal Case 06-62230 for multiple murder with the use of explosives with multiple frustrated murder.

Included in the case was Francisco Balois, alias Tonying, the NPA leader in Central Panay.

Castor, deputy secretary of the Central Front of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay, was running a group in Tapaz and Jamindan towns in Capiz and in Calinog town of Iloilo.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said Castor, who hails from Tapaz town in Capiz, is the deputy secretary of the NPA Central Front Committee.

Castor was reportedly with his daughter when members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team- Iloilo, the Leganes Police and the Philippine Army soldiers swooped down in his relative's house.

Tiongson said it was possible that Castor has been involved in various atrocities like murder and robbery in band, the same cases for which Balois was accused of.

"We did our job, together with the police, in bringing Castor to justice. From here on, we will just let the case to take its due process," he added.

Colonel Eric Uchida, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said: "The arrest of Castor is certainly a big blow against the CPP-NPA hierarchy and will add to their leadership crisis. This will contribute to the peaceful environment in the provinces of Panay Island."

The arrested NPA leader is now in custody of the Police Regional Office-6 for proper disposition of his case.