THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), arrested two communist guerrillas during a military operation in St. Andrew, Purok 23-B, Isla Suerte, Barangay 76-A, on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Major Ruben Gadut, chief of the 10th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), confirmed that the operation served as an arrest warrant for Benny Flores Mendoza, a political instructor of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) Executive Committee.
Also arrested was Francisco Rotol Sud-ongan, another SMRC member, who was reportedly found in possession of a fragmentation grenade and a .45-caliber revolver.
The warrant, CC No. 10-2021 MNK/FC RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012), was filed at RTC Branch 11, Compostela, Davao de Oro. The two suspects are currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Davao Region (CIDG-Davao) at its headquarters in San Pedro, Davao City.
Major General Allan Hambala, commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, underscored the operation's success in demonstrating AFP-PNP cooperation in maintaining regional peace.
“The dwindling remnants of the SMRC are experiencing a leadership vacuum since Region 11 was declared insurgency-free,” said Hambala. “The 10th Infantry Division will continue to intensify its Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support (Pleds) operations with other sectors to prevent the resurgence of communist terrorist groups.”
In the final quarter of 2024, combined AFP-PNP operations led to the capture of four senior New People’s Army (NPA) officers: SMRC secretary Ruel Villanueva Cabales (alias Aman), deputy secretary Catherine Apares Guinoo (alias Dewen), SMRC Execom member Porferio Tuna Jr. (alias Danny/Ampong/Ka Simon). DEF