POLICE arrested in Janiuay town Sunday, January 26, a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army who is also believed to be a platoon leader operating in several areas of central Panay.

Police Regional Office-Western Visayas spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong identified the arrested suspect as Karma John Suarez, 34, who goes by the aliases "Ka Fred and Ka Dennis."

Suarez was nabbed in Barangay Aquino Nobleza West, Janiuay by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Judith Orendain-Tonogbanua of Mambusao Regional Trial Court Branch 20 in Capiz for the crime of rebellion.

Police said Suarez is the leader of Igabon Platoon of Central Front Committee of the Communist Kilusang Rehiyon-Panay.

Suarez, according to Malong, has a pending case also in the Iloilo court for attacking the Maasin Municipal Police Station on June 18, 2017.

Malong added that Suarez was with the 40 rebel members who attacked a police station and carted in 15 minutes M16 rifles, .9mm pistols, handheld radios, laptops, cellphones, cash and jewelry.

Nine policemen were at the station during the raid. They were not harmed, but they were handcuffed as the rebels used the police station's patrol car to flee.