Rebel tagged in ambush on police trainees falls

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union, Philippines – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA), tagged in an ambush on police trainees in Mountain Province last year, was arrested in Cervantes town, Ilocos Sur on Saturday.

Marvarose Longang-a, 26, was arrested at his safehouse in Barangay Comillas by police and military operatives, said La Union police director Senior Superintendent Ramon Rafael.

Longang-a’s arrest was based on a warrant issued by Ilocos Sur Judge Modesto Quismoro for rebellion. No bail was recommended.

“The suspect is one of the respondents in a rebellion case filed against those responsible in the attack on police trainees in Tadian town last year,” Rafael said.

Ninety-five police trainees, including 70 women and their four trainers, were jogging in Barangay Kabunagan when a group of suspected NPA rebels ambushed them on June 28 last year. One was killed and nine others were wounded in the attack.

Police said the suspect is a member of the NPA Ilocos-Cordillera regional committee, who participated in the ambush of government troops in Bessang Pass, Cervantes town in 2004.

Longang-a is a graduating criminology student of the Mountain Province Polytechnic State College in Tadian town.

Authorities believe the NPA may be planning to infiltrate the Philippine National Police through Longang-a.

Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, acting chief of the Police Regional Office 1 intelligence division, told The STAR that Longang-a uses a different name.            – With Eva Visperas