2 ranking NPAs, 2 followers nabbed in Sarangani

TWO ranking New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and two followers were arrested in a joint law enforcement operation in Maitum, Sarangani, military officials said Friday, October 11.

Lieutenant Colonel Jones Otida, Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion commander, identified the two arrested ranking NPAs as Nicanor Pason or also known as Kumander Costan, one of the NPA leaders in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat; and Bernard Prespetero, spokesperson of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Regional Committee.

The two arrested NPA followers were identified as Josephine Carvajal Sumagaysay and Reynaldo Beringel Loyola.

Otida said the four were nabbed after being served a warrant of arrest early Thursday in Kalaong Village, Maitum municipality.

Costan has a standing warrant of arrest for murder issued by the court of Alabel, Sarangani province, he added.

The military official said Costan was wounded when the arresting team “executed a calibrated action to immobilize” Costan, who attempted to explode a fragmentation grenade “to negate arrest.”

He said Costan, who was wounded, was rushed to the Maitum hospital while the three others were taken to the police station of the same town for proper disposition.

Lieutenant General Felimon Santos, Jr., Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief, said they will be running after the leaders of the NPA who continuously embrace violent armed struggle.

Santos noted that the NPA are losing mass-based support and manpower brought about by the initiatives of local government units and other government agencies. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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