PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos on Tuesday afternoon announced the capture of six more members of the CPP/NPA/NDF led by a ranking communist party leader during simultaneous operations in Quezon City and Bulacan.

The top cop identified the arrested ranking rebel personality as Gil Peralta, a regular member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines who was arrested by agents of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro in his rented house in Barangay Maribolo, Q.C.

The PNP chief described Peralta as among the convenors of the CPP’s 2nd Congress who was also identified as a secretary of the CPP/NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley, the 1st Deputy Secretary and Finance Officer of the CPP/NPA’s Regional Organizational Department in Cagayan Valley.

Gen. Carlos said the suspect was arrested on the strength of warrants for arson and frustrated murder issued by a local court. He added that Peralta has been identified as one of the ‘brains’ behind a number of NPA atrocities in Cagayan Valley including the burning of several heavy equipment of the DDT Construction Company in Lal-lo, Cagayan in October 2020 and an attack on a CAFGU Active Auxiliary detachment in Sto. Niño municipality in July 2019.

The suspect was also implicated in the ambush-killing of former Lasam, Cagayan councilor Marjorie April Salazar and civilians Eduardo Asuten, John Rey Cortes and Aiza Salvador Manuel.

Former NPA members who have surrendered to the government have accused Peralta of allegedly using funds generated from NPA extortion activities in Cagayan Valley for his own personal interest.

The other five suspects who were arrested in Bgy. San Vicente in Santa Maria, Bulacan were identified as Irene Agcaoili alias ‘Ayang,’ tagged as the finance head of the KR-CV who is wanted for murder, multiple attempted murder and robbery and who carries a P700,000 bounty on her haead; Lourdes Bulan alias ‘Simang,’ another KR-CV Executive Committee member wanted for murder and multiple attempted murder; Roy de la Cruz alias ‘Mick/Bonel/Niño,’ said to be an intelligence officer of KR-CV; Arcadio Tangonan alias ‘Mariano Ramos’ and Natividad Santos.

Agcaoili attempted to shoot the arresting officers while Santos armed himself with a grenade upon seeing the lawmen. However, both were immediately subdued by the policemen.

Recovered during the Bulacan raid were two caliber .45 semi-automatic pistols, one cal. 5.56 Colt M-16 automatic rifle, one 9mm Armscor pistol, three hand grenades, several improvised explosive devices, assorted magazines with live ammunition, 12 non-electric blasting caps, six improvised boosters of a 100x25mm and two improvised 205x60mm boosters.

The records of the recovered firearms are being checked by officers with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Gen. Eleazar said the arrested suspects have been identified as part of the CPP/NPA’s Manila Support Group facilitating and initiating the supposed extortion activities of the KR-CV in Manila.

“The apprehension of Peralta and his five staff will significantly affect the leadership and organization of the CPP-NPA especially in Cagayan Valley Region. Likewise, it will give justice to the victims of the NPA in Cagayan Valley region,” said Gen. Carlos.

The suspects will be initially facing non-bailable charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

“I am commending the PNP CIDG, the local PNP units and the AFP operatives that were involved in the operation. But with that, I am also directing the CIDG Director to initiate further investigation on the criminal activities of the arrested suspects to bring justice to their victims.

It is the firm resolve of the PNP to suppress lawlessness in the country. Your PNP will not allow the communist-terrorists blatant disregard for human rights. Let this be a manifestation of the PNP’s commitment to the attainment of the NTF ELCAC’s objectives, towards the upholding of justice and democracy in the country,” Gen. Carlos said.