5 ‘NPA leaders’ nabbed in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Five suspected ranking members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have been arrested in a series of police and military operations in the Caraga region over the weekend.

The suspects were identified as Isias Geñorga, alias Ising; Gina Tutor, alias Cora; Ma. Vilma Dalangin, alias Mader; Eduardo Ventura Sr. and Jude Laray.

Geñorga was arrested yesterday at his house in Barangay Doongan, Butuan City.

The suspect is reportedly the secretary general of transport group Piston or the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide and chairman of the urban poor group Kadamay-Caraga region chapter.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., Caraga police  director, said Geñorga holds several positions in the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMERC).

Caramat said Tutor is secretary general of women’s group Gabriela in Agusan del Norte. Dalangin is reportedly a recruiter and organizer of a farmers’ group as well as secretary and chief committee organizer of the NPA-NMERC.

Ventura was reportedly involved in harassment and attacks in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur in 1999.

Laray was reportedly a political instructor of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda of the NPA-NMERC’s Guerrilla Front 4-A.