AUTHORITIES arrested Sunday, February 23, an alleged member of the New People’s Army in Sitio Malangsa, Barangay Lamogong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.
The 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion (94IB) identified the alleged rebel as James Casusi Abrasaldo, 29 years old.
The army troopers arrested the NPA rebel after receiving a tip-off from concerned citizens about the presence of an NPA member.
The troops led by 1st Lt. Abdulnasser Israel, commanding officer of Bravo Company, 94IB, immediately organized his troops and proceeded to the area. While the troops were approaching, the said person attempted to escape but was cornered and captured by the troops.
Recovered from the suspect was one fragmentation grenade.
The said suspect was immediately brought to the Manjuyod Municipal Police Station for proper investigation and filing of appropriate case.
The suspect was also positively identified as a member of communist terrorist group operating in the area.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted his participation in the encounter against the government troops of Bravo Company, 94IB at Sitio Cabangahan, Brgy Bantolinao, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental last October 3, 2019.
Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade Commander said, “the arrest of Abrasaldo clearly shows that our communities are already fed-up with the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) who sow fear and continuously extort from the populace in the area. It also manifests the support of the people on the Whole-of-Nation Approach of Executive Order 70. It a positive response from the community that they are despising the presence of the rebels by giving information. It is a very clear message to the NPA rebels that they are not welcome in the area”.
Pasaporte also urged the people of Manjuyod and the whole populace of Negros Oriental to continue reporting the presence of NPAs in their communities in order for them to prevent their extortion and other terroristic activities”, Colonel Pasaporte, added.