Five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested during a warrant service operation in Talisay, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, following a recent deadly clash in the province.
The military operation was conducted along the Circumferential Road, Barangay Matab-ang of Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said on Thursday.
Operatives were serving an arrest warrant for attempted murder against a suspect identified as alias ‘Glem’ when four additional individuals were apprehended after being found in possession of firearms and explosives, it said.
The arrested individuals were identified as alias ‘Glem,’ 48, of Zamboanga Sibugay and squad leader of the North Negros Front (NNF); alias ‘Dan,’ 25, of Himamaylan City, squad leader of Central Negros 2 (CN2); alias ‘Jud,’ 34, of San Carlos City; alias ‘Ju,’ 26, of Murcia; and alias ‘Je,’ 57, of Bacolod City.
Both ‘Glem’ and ‘Dan’ are listed on the Periodic Status Report (PSR) of wanted personalities, the police said.
Authorities said some of the suspects reportedly had visible body wounds, which led them to believe the group was previously involved in an armed encounter with troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.
Authorities recovered four short firearms, live ammunition, and explosive devices from the suspects, the PRO NIR said.
The operation was led by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of PRO-NIR in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit (CIDG-RFU), the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), the 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force (6th SAB, PNP SAF), the Talisay City Component Police Station (Talisay CCPS), and the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) of the Philippine Army.