THREE armed men from Ayungon, Negros Oriental were arrested shortly after their motorized banca docked in Badian town in southwestern Cebu on Wednesday afternoon, July 31, 2019.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Debold Sinas tagged the three as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and accused them of involvement in the killing of four policemen in Ayungon on July 18.
Members of the 2nd Police Mobile Force Company (PMFC) and personnel of the Badian Police Station arrested the three who identified themselves as Danny Harold Tancinco, Ronnie Herebias and Marlon Basalo.
Sinas said during the interrogation, the three admitted being NPA members and among those who killed the police officers.
“Niangkon na man ni sila kung kinsa ni sila, tapos nianhi daw sila kay init na kaayo sa Ayungon kay daghan na kaayo ang operation ug daghan na ang nangadakpan didto. Mao nang nanganhi daw sila diri para pagpahulay (They already confessed who they are. They said they decided to come here because authorities were running after them in Ayungon. Many had been arrested there already, so they decided to come here and rest),” Sinas told reporters on Thursday, Aug. 1.
According to Sinas, two of the suspects are members of the NPA’s striking force that targets police and military personnel. Sinas believes other NPA members have managed to flee Negros Oriental and are now hiding in Cebu.
He assured the public, though, that there is no cause for alarm as the police is on top of the peace and order situation.
Sinas said the vigilance of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) of Ayungon helped make the arrest possible.
The three were arrested at 1 p.m after their banca docked in Lambug Beach, close to the area where the police were patrolling to verify the intelligence report.
The three, who wore backpacks during the arrest, allegedly yielded firearms and explosives.
Recovered from Tancinco were a .38 caliber revolver with four live ammunition, two rifle grenades and some documents related to the NPA’s operations.
Herebias and Basalo also yielded one .45 caliber firearm, one .38 revolver, 10 live ammunition, two 40MM M203 ammunition, a hand grenade and a tactical map.
They were brought to the Badian police station and will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and RA 9516 or the Unlawful Manufacture, Sale, Acquisition, Disposition, Importation or Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device. (WBS with AYB of Superbalita Cebu/LRC)