Friday, December 19, 2008 5 suspected rebels arrested
SAN FERNANDO CITY -- Combined elements of the police Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) and Philippine Army arrested Tuesday night five armed men believed to be members of Rebolusyong Hukbong Bayan (RHB), a breakaway group of the New People’s Army.
The five men are suspected to be behind the collection of “revolutionary taxes” from fishpond operators in the provinces of Pampanga and Bataan.
Provincial Police Director Keith Ernald Singian identified the apprehended suspects as Darwin Sevilla a.k.a Adolf, Sonny Cortez, a.k.a Jao, Jomar Mayo, a.k.a Jody or Mar, Ruben Monteras a.k.a Mar or Ben, and Joseph Sevilla.
In his report to Singian, PMG group director Ricardo David said they were conducting anti-criminality patrols and checkpoints along the National Highway and Barangay Remedios in Lubao when they chanced upon the armed group alighting from a vehicle.
Colonel Jose Mabanta, commanding officer of 703rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the group was about to conduct a meeting in the area.
He furthered that a stakeout operation has been conducted by the PMG since December 12 until the suspects were finally caught.
Confiscated from the suspects were a .30 caliber 30 M2 Carbine, a .45 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber home-made revolver and a hand grenade.
Charges of violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 were being readied against the five suspects as of press time.
Singian said the apprehension of the suspects is in line with the directive and current thrust of Central Luzon police director Leon Nilo dela Cruz to amplify conduct of combat patrols and related measures to deny communist rebels from striking during the Christmas season.
