COMBINED military and police personnel
captured the alleged leader of the New People's Army in Sorsogon
and three of his comrades at a checkpoint in Barangay Villa
Hermosa, Daraga, Albay early last Saturday, authorities reported
yesterday.
Quoting belated reports from the 9th Infantry
Division, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres identified the
arrested NPA leader as Andres Hubilla, alias Magno and Bunso,
secretary of the Komiteng Probinsya Sorsogon.
Arrested with him were Eddie Alemania, alias
Louie and Taba; Crispolo Alindogan, alias Cris; and Joy Gajo
Ladim, alias Jell. The three rebels, along with Hubilla, are
being debriefed by the military before they are turned over to
the police.
Torres said the four were traveling in a car
when stopped by 9th Infantry Division intelligence operatives
and local policemen at the checkpoint along Maharlika highway.
Torres said the police and the military men impounded the car
and seized from the suspects a Neo laptop computer, a Ruger
pistol, one MP3 player, one cellphone, six backpacks, and a
shoulder bag.
Hubilla and Alindogan are both wanted for
murder, and Alemania for rebellion and attempted murder.
Later that same day, more than 40 NPA members
wearing military uniforms made off with high powered firearms
taken from barangay watchmen in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
A report to Camp Crame said the NPAs, clad in
uniforms with Task Force Davao patches, arrived at the Barangay
Malativas hall at around 10 p.m. and made the barangay watchmen
believe that they were on a legitimate operation in the area.
Once inside the barangay hall, they divested
barangay captain Samuel Dacalos and his watchmen of four M-1
Garand rifles.
In Gen. Nakar, Quezon, two NPAs and a soldier
from the 16th Infantry Battalion were killed and three others,
including two civilians, were wounded in a clash Tuesday
afternoon.
Quoting sketchy reports, Southern Luzon
Command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the clash
occurred in Macalla, Barangay Pagsangahan at around 1:30 p.m.
after a platoon from the 16th IB led by a Lt. Guillermo caught
up with at least 20 rebels.
Troops recovered the bodies of the slain rebels and a wounded
one and captured another. They also recovered from the scene
three rifles. - Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
