MANILA (Updated) -- National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Vicente Ladlad was arrested early Thursday, November 8, in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Initial reports said Ladlad was nabbed around 1:30 a.m. in a joint police-military operation conducted in the NDFP's alleged "safe house" in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City.
Also arrested were the safe house owners Alberto and Virginia Villamor.
The operation was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn E. Burgos-Villavert of Regional Trial Court Branch 89 National Capital Judicial Region.
Pieces of evidence recovered during the operation were one Russian-Made AK-47 with bayonet, one magazine assembly for AK 47 with nine rounds 7.62x39 millimeter ammunition, one Elisco M16A1 assault rifle with defaced serial number, three magazine assy with 80 rounds 5.56-millimeter ammunition, one caliber .45 Colt MK IV Series 80, two magazine assy for caliber .45 with 21 rounds of ammunition, one 9-millimeter pistol loaded with nine ammunition, four hand grenades, several electronic devices and documents, as well as two flags of The Netherlands.
But Ladlad's wife, Fides, denied that her husband has firearms in his possession.
Fides, who was in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig where her husband is expected to be presented by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde, went hysterical as she sought to see her husband.
"Gusto kong makita ang asawa ko. 'Yun lang (I just want to see my husband)," she said.