CEBU – Police and military forces captured a senior leader of the communist rebel group New People’s Army in a joint operation Tuesday in Iloilo province in Western Visayas region in central Philippines, officials said.
Officials said Norberto Castor alias Ka Marlon and Ka Greg was captured in the village called Calaboa in Leganes town.
Castor is the Deputy Secretary of the Central Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Panay and is facing a string of criminal charges, according to Police Director Benjamin Magalong, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He said the rebel leader is also included in the government wanted list and has a P2.3 million bounty on his head. Another rebel, Francisco Balois alias Ka Tonying, is also being hunted by security forces in the province.
“Relentless efforts are being undertaken by the Team CIDG and other PNP (Philippine National Police) units along with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to prevent crimes and capture lawless elements that could pose threat to public safety,” Magalong said.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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