6 top Cagayan Valley region rebel commanders caught

November 16, 2021 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (November 16, 2021)— Six alleged top ranking officials of the New Peoples Army in Cagayan Valley region were caught Monday.
Gil Peralta alias “Ka Elmo”, allegedly the Secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon – Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) was caught at Barangay Mariblo, Quezon City; while Irene Agcaoili alias “Ka Ayang”, alleged Head Finance of KR-CV; Lourdes Bulan alias “Ka Simang”, EXECOM member of KR-CV; Arcadio Tangonan alias “Ka Tiago”, Intelligence Officer of KR-CV; alias “Ka Bonel”, also an Intelligence Officer of KR-CV; and alias “Ka Bebang” were caught at Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Major Israel Galorio, information officer of the Northern Luzon Command said, soldiers seized an M16 rifle, three Cal. 45 pistols, five anti-personnel mines, and three hand grenades.
Three of the apprehended personalities, particularly Peralta, Agcaoili, and Bulan have pending arrest warrants for murder, multiple murder, multiple attempted murder, arson, and robbery, Galorio added.
Major General Laurence Mina, commander of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division who closely supervised the operation, said Monday’s setback of the communist movement “is a testament of our steadfast commitment to end the communist terrorists’ reign of terror in Northern Luzon.”
With reports of a continuous winning streak against the New People’s Army, NOLCOM further intensifies its internal security efforts to permanently clear Northern and Central Luzon from communist terrorists, added Galorio.
While Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr, Nolcom commander emphasized that they are executing their final push to totally decimate the NPAs in North and Central Luzon.
“We are right on track, and we are taking the extra mile to ensure that we will further hasten the decimation of the communist terrorists in Northern Luzon to comply with the President’s directive to end the communist insurgency by the end of his term,” he said.
Only on November 13, soldiers from the 50th Infantry Battalion fought communist terrorists under Kilusang Larangang Gerilya – “BAGGAS” at Barangay Bagtayan, Pasil, Kalinga which allegedly resulted in the death of Julio Dumalyung alias “Ka Poli”, an NPA regular and seized an M16 rifle, two magazine assemblies for the rifle, 25 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, a transistor radio, and other personal belongings.
Lt Gen Burgos stressed that the series of setbacks of the rebels will have detrimental effects saying, “the series of debacles suffered by the Communist terrorists in North and Central Luzon will further drag down the morale of their members while causing leadership vacuum in their group, which will eventually lead to the downfall of their reign of terror in this part of the country.”
Artemio A. Dumlao