Suspected NPA leader nabbed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An alleged ranking member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested in Zamboanga peninsula on Sunday, security officials said yesterday.

Benjie Gomez, 47, deputy secretary of the NPA’s Regional White Area Committee in Western Mindanao was arrested in Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte, according to Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, chief of the Zamboanga regional police.

Gomez had a standing arrest warrant for murder issued by a local court in Sindangan town in January 2019.

No bail was recommended for Gomez’s temporary liberty.

On the same day, two more rebels surrendered to the military in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

The surrenderees, identified as Okie, 53, and his wife Ana, 43, surrendered to the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Anonang.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the couple could no longer bear the hardships in the mountains due to the relentless operations launched by the military.

Okie and Ana were members of the defunct Main Regional Guerrilla Unit and of the Regional Urban Committee of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party, respectively, according to Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, chief of the Army’s 102 Infantry Brigade.