FOUR suspected top Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CCP-NPA) personalities in Western Visayas were arrested by Philippine National Police (PNP) agents in separate operations in Iloilo province on Wednesday while in possession of weapons and explosives, PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. reported citing a report from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Two of the suspects identified with the alias “Ka Ole/Oli/Liang” and “Jeffrey” were arrested along the national highway in Barangay San Juan, Barotac Viejo in Iloilo, at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday said PNP-CIDG Director Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee.

The two are both natives of Tulunan, North Cotabato, who transferred to Iloilo. Lee described “Ka Ole” as a “high-value CPP/NPA individual” who has been identified as the commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command and 1st deputy secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the CPP/NPA.

The CIDG Iloilo Provincial Field Unit (PFU) members were joined by operatives from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) Regional Intelligence Division under Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (IB), the Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station, the Passi City Police Station, and the New Bataan MPS in Davao de Oro in tracking down the suspects.

Lee said that “Ka Ole”, tagged as the no. 1 most wanted person (MWP) in Davao de Oro, was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for five counts of attempted murder issued by Judge Carmel Gil Grado of the Compostela Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 56 in Davao de Oro.

The court asked him to pay a P72,000 bail for each case.

When arrested, the suspect yielded a caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing seven live ammunition, a hand grenade, and several identification cards.

“Jeffrey” was arrested after he was found possessing a fragmentation grenade.

A Honda RS motorcycle being used by the duo was impounded by the local police shortly after the inventory of the confiscated pieces of evidence, which was done in the presence of local barangay and media personalities.

The other two suspects, identified as alias “Ka Rey” and alias “Karil/Karell/Yas” were arrested inside the NHA People’s Housing in Bgy. Vista Alegre in Barotac Viejo municipality shortly before 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, said the PNP-CIDG chief.

He described “Ka Rey” as a member of the Regional Tax Implementing Group (RTIG) and a former commanding officer of the CPP/NPA SMRC who has been tagged as the 3rd MWP in Maco, Davao de Oro.

“Karil” was identified as a political instructor of the SMRC and a member of its RTIG. Both were described as natives of Bgy. Sangab in Maco, Davao de Oro who transferred to Iloilo.

Lee said that Ka Rey was arrested based on four warrants of arrest for murder and two warrants for homicide issued by Judge Celestial Aranda-Gonzales of the Mabini, Davao de Oro RTC Br. 57 and a warrant for illegal discharge of firearm issued by Judge Divina Samson of the Maco Municipal Trial Court (MTC).

No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused in connection with the murder cases filed against him. However, the court allowed him to post a total of P250,000 bail in connection with the homicide and illegal discharge of firearm cases hurled at him.

The suspect yielded a fragmentation grenade and several IDs during his arrest. His motorcycle was impounded by the CIDG.

The PNP-CIDG director said that Karil, a known party wife of Ka Rey, was arrested for illegally possessing explosives.

Lee said that the inventory of the pieces of evidence was conducted by officers equipped with body-worn cameras and alternative recording devices and in the presence of two local barangay officials.