A PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG)-led operation in Roxas City in Capiz on Saturday resulted in the capture of a suspected ranking female Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army personality in Western Visayas and the seizure of a cache of firearms and explosives, PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said.

Arrested during the raid on Block 4, Lot 17, Happy Homes Subdivision in Bgy. Sibaguan in Roxas City was 45-year-old Lenilyn Jaynos alias ‘Sandra/Elizabeth,’ allegedly a member of the Regional Finance KR-Panay of the CPP/NPA.

Agents of the PNP-CIDG under Brigadier Gen. Ronald O. Lee are still tracking down two other colleagues and co-residents of Laynos identified as Cirila Estrada alias ‘Sheila Gonzales/Cora’ and Marivie Arguelles.

“We have arrested a suspected ranking CPP/NPA personality and seized a cache of firearms and explosives in line with our intensified campaign against loose weapons and support to the Armed Forces in accounting for most wanted rebel personalities,” said Brig. Gen. Lee.

Estrada was tagged as a secretary of the CPP/NPA Regional Organizing Department of the same CPP/NPA unit while Arguelles was said to be a community organizer and influencer of the movement in Capiz where she is known as a coordinator of the Gabriela Capiz province chapter.

Azurin said the PNP-CIDG was assisted by officers from the Army’s 301st Brigade, Capiz Provincial Police Intelligence Unit, Roxas City Police Station and the Capiz Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Unit during the operation conducted at around 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Citing a report from Lee, the top cop said members of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 6 and the CIDG Capiz Provincial Field Unit led by Colonel Marlon Santos and Lieutenant Danilo Matahum respectively served a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the suspects.

Azurin congratulated the PNP-CIDG for the successful Capiz operation and assured that all the rights of the accused will be observed by the police.

The warrants for violation of Republic Act 9516 or illegal possession of explosives and RA 10591 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 were issued by Judge Esperanza Isabela Poco-Deslate of the Roxas City Regional Trial Court Branch 19.

Confiscated during the raid were two caliber .45 semi-automatic pistols with two magazines, 82 rounds of live cal. .45 ammunition, an MK-2 fragmentation grenade and a PRB 423 hand grenade.

Also recovered inside the suspects’ place were a Gabriela flag and a tarpaulin.

The records of the confiscated firearms with serial numbers 570860 and 322639 are now being checked by the PNP-CIDG with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Lee said that Jaynos is listed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines ‘order of battle’ and has been tagged as a ‘high-value individual’ from the CPP/NPA.

He said that the two other respondents were not around when the raiding team conducted the raid in the presence of a local barangay official and two journalists.

Jaynos was placed under arrest shortly after the illegal weapons and explosives were recovered by the raiding team from the CIDG. She was apprised of her constitutional rights before being taken to the CIDG Capiz office for booking and filing of criminal charges.