‘NPA leader’ nabbed in Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) has been arrested by government security forces in Guiguinto, Bulacan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported yesterday.

Philip Alcantara, alias Joshua, is reportedly the platoon leader of the NPA’s Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee operating in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

Alcantara is reportedly a son of NPA leader-turned National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Tirso Alcantara, alias Ka Bart, who is wanted for murder including the ambush on Quezon representative Marcial Punzalan Jr. in 2001.

Authorities recovered from the suspect a pistol, ammunition and a grenade, according to Maj. Israel Galorio, public affairs office chief of the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).

Alcantara was arrested last week in Barangay Panginay based on a warrant issued by the Infanta Regional Trial Court for multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder, said Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., chief of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division.

Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. thanked the residents for cooperating with the military, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

Meanwhile, four NPA guerrillas surrendered to authorities in Zamboanga del Norte and Sultan Kudarat over the weekend.

Angel Tungob and Gernisto Tacloban, both of the NPA‘s regional committee of the Western Mindanao Regional Party surrendered to the Zamboanga regional police in Leon Postigo town, according Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Ylagan, regional police director.

The surrenderees were also members of the Alyansa ng Mag-uuma sa Zamboanga del Norte.

In Sultan Kudarat, Jonathan Saliling and Michael Lugko surrendered to the Army‘s 7th Infantry Battalion in Isulan, according to Brig. Lt. Col. Romel Valencia, commander of the 7th IB.

Saliling and Lugko turned over their rifles to Valencia during a ceremony held at the Army headquarters.