NPA leader with P5.8M bounty arrested

Solar News Online, from a report by JM Agreda

Published: Fri, August 08, 2014

Camp Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet – A ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines with P5.8 million bounty was arrested Tuesday (August 5).

Chief Superintendent Isagani Nerez, Cordillera PNP regional director, identified the arrested NPA leader as Eduardo Almores Esteban alias "Ka Bonnie," who is also the secretary of Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee.

The 60-year-old Esteban is listed as No. 1 in the Order of Battle of the Periodic Status Report Threat Groups of the Philippine National Police for the 2nd quarter of 2014 .

The NPA leader was arrested at the vicinity of Landheights Subdivision, Barangay Buntatala, Jaro, Iloilo City at around 9:45 a.m. on August 5.

Nerez told reporters here on Thursday (August 7) that Esteban was nabbed through the joint operations of the Police Regional Office Cordillera, personnel of the Military Intelligence Group, Intelligence Service of the AFP, and Regional Intelligence Units 6 and 14 by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Corpuz Alzate of the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Bangued, Abra.

Nerez says police also discovered that Esteban also has warrants of arrest for frustrated murder, rebellion, and two counts of murder which were all issued by the RTC Branch 23, of Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

The arrested rebel leader is now under the custody of the Cordillera regional PNP for documentation prior to turn over to the courts.

Nerez stressed the arrest of top NPA leaders will have a big blow on the capability of the NPA operating in the different parts of the region.

“PRO-Cordillera will continue serving warrant of arrests and pursue more members of rebel groups through legal means as our firm resolve to put an end to the criminal group menace,” the regional PNP commander said. 

Source: http://www.solarnews.ph/news/regional/2014/08/08/npa-leader-with-p5.8m-bounty-arrested