Suspected CPP-NPA commander nabbed

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A joint team of operatives of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the intelligence community arrested Tuesday dawn an alleged ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

Provincial Police OIC director, Supt. Alet Virtucio, said initial police report said Nilda Bertulano, alias Frea, was arrested during a checkpoint at the crossing of Barangay Tamisu in Bais City around 4:10 a.m. Tuesday.

Bertulano, an alleged amazon, or female fighter of the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, is wanted for cases of rebellion (Case No. 3344) and murder (Case No. 4311-C) filed at the Regional Trial Court 6th Judicial Region Branch 60 in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Court warrants for her arrest were issued by Executive Judge Renato Munez, according to Virtucio.

Bertulano was a motorcycle traveling to Mabinay town in Negros Oriental when she was flagged down at a checkpoint and arrested.

Brigadier Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the  302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, alleged that Bertulano is the commander of the Front Operational Command of the Larangan Guerilla 1 of the NPA based in northern Negros.

She is also the alleged secretary of the provincial white area committee, a term used for front groups of the CPP-NPA, said Patrimonio, although details on rebellion and murder charges against Bertulano were unavailable.

Bertulano, who is now detained at the Bais City Police Station, has been in the military's watchlist of suspected NPA members, added Patrimonio. — (FREEMAN)