CIDG captures top NPA, pal in Cavite
SECURITY forces on Tuesday arrested a top official of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ Central Committee and her companion inside their house in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. announced Thursday.
Citing a report from PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Major Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, the top cop identified the arrested suspects as Evangeline Rapanut alias ‘Vicky Ramos,’71; and Randy Tamayo alias ‘Deng,’45.
Danao added that members of the PNP-CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit under Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio, supported by officers from the Philippine Army and local police arrested the two inside their house along Nara Boulevard, Greenwood Heights in Barangay Paliparan II, Dasmariñas City 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said Rapanut is the subject of a warrant of arrest for murder and frustrated murder issued by Judge Jezarene Aquino of the Tuguegarao City Regional Trial Court Branch 5 in Cagayan province with no bail recommended for her temporary liberty.
The official said that Tamayo was nabbed when he allegedly tried to stop the CIDG team from arresting Rapanut.
A search of the house resulted in the recovery of a caliber 9mm pistol, an MK-2 hand grenade, an M-16 automatic rifle with three magazines containing 57 live ammunition, two pieces of ¼ lbs TNT, a detonating cord measuring 37.19 feet, a foot-long time fuse and eight non-electric blasting caps.
Also seized by officers were a laptop, six hard drives, 13 USBs, 19 SD cards and 39 assorted mobile phones which were all believed to be containing evidence of substantive value and were ordered subjected to a forensic examination.
Rapanut was identified as a CPP Central Committee member and the 2nd Deputy Secretary for Organization and Deputy Secretary of the National Education Department of the communist movement.
She was also reported to be a former secretary of the CPP/NPAs Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan while Tamayo was described as a communication staff of the CPP’s education department.
Both suspects were presented before the Cavite Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday for inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.
Tamayo was also charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1829 or obstruction of justice.
“The arrest of the said CTG members is a manifestation of the stern commitment of the CIDG to support our government effort to end all atrocities perpetrated by the radical group,” said Maj. Gen. Cruz.
