By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao Bureau
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Joint police and military forces arrested the region’s No. 2 most wanted member of the New People’s Army rebel in Barobo town, Surigao del Sur, on Sept. 5, police said.
The suspect, identified by authorities as alias “Jepoy,” 53, was arrested around 9:15 p.m. in Barangay Sudlon.
Police said the suspect, a resident of Sitio Emerald in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, was a former political instructor of the Sub-Regional Committee Southland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
He was arrested based on several warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Lianga. The warrants were for three counts of murder, for which no bail was recommended; two counts of frustrated murder, with bail set at ₱200,000 each; and two counts of attempted murder, with bail set at ₱100,000 and ₱120,000.
The operation was led by the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office and carried out by personnel from the Barobo Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit 13, 14th Special Action Company of the PNP-Special Action Force, 41st Military Intelligence Company, 1st Surigao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13, and other intelligence units.
Police said the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights under the Miranda doctrine and the Anti-Torture Act. The arrest was also recorded using a body-worn camera.
The suspect remains in the custody of the Barobo police for documentation and proper court disposition.
Surigao del Sur police provincial director Police Col. Jeffrey Lawrence D. Mauricio commended the operating units for their intelligence sharing and coordination.
“The capture of a high-ranking CTG leader brings justice closer to the victims of these violent acts and brings us one step closer to achieving total peace in Surigao del Sur,” Mauricio said.
He added that the police, together with their military counterparts, would continue efforts to locate wanted individuals hiding from the law.
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