Communist leader nabbed in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was arrested in Laguna on Tuesday.

Antonia Dizon, 60, secretary of the CPP-New People’s Army (NPA) national organizing department, was collared at her hideout in Barangay Rosario, San Pedro City before noon, Laguna police director Col. Eleazar Matta said.

Dizon took over the post vacated by National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Rafael Baylosis following his arrest in Quezon City last year.

Matta said Dizon yielded a .38-caliber revolver, ammunition, two cellular phones, a laptop, subversive documents and bomb materials.

Dizon’s arrest was based on a warrant for murder issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 7 Executive Judge Lou Nueva in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

The search warrant was issued by Laguna RTC Judge Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and illegal possession of explosives.

”The CPP-NPA-NDF is losing its members and leaders both at the national and local levels,” Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay of the Southern Luzon Command said.

In Negros Occidental, the military said NPA rebels Jomar Agustin, alias Mari, and Revely Tayab, alias Tara, were arrested following an encounter with soldiers in Sitio Maitom, Barangay Old Poblacion, Escalante City, also on Tuesday.

In Surigao del Sur, three NPA rebels surrendered to the 75th Infantry Battalion yesterday. They turned over their guns, ammunition, bomb materials and subversive documents. – Ed Amoroso, Jaime Laude, Gilbert Bayoran, Michael Punongbayan