Female NPA leader nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - A female rebel leader facing several criminal cases was arrested by government security forces Monday night in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, the Army said.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said Nancy Ortega, said to be the provincial front secretary of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Camarines Norte, was nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant for multiple frustrated murder.

“She (Ortega) has directed various attacks on military and police posts in Camarines Norte as well as the killings of many innocent civilians,” said Col. Richard Lagrana, commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade.

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command, said authorities had received information that Ortega would visit her relatives in Iriga. 

“This is a big blow to the NPA organization in the Bicol region,” said Maj. Gen. Romeo Calizo, chief of the Army’s 9th ID.

As this developed, 10 suspected NPA guerrillas burned a crane truck used to build a bridge in Alegria, Surigao del Norte last Monday.