BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – A ranking Army official. commanding battalions of soldiers in Western Visayas region said the forces of the local Communist Party had been weakening in Negros island, proof of which is the recent capture of its top leader and two other regional-level cadres in the village of Su-ay in Himamaylan City yesterday, 18 March 2022.
“This terrorist group may have been very quick to release propaganda materials of denying their losses and setbacks. But with this development, they can no longer deny the weakening of their forces in Negros island,” Major General Benedict Arevalo was quoted as saying in a news release of the 3rd ID Public Affairs Office based in Iloilo City.
Arevalo’s statement came on the heels of a joint police-Army operation that led to the arrest of the three suspected rebels in the southern Negros city.
Division spokesman, Capt. Kim Apitong named the three as Ramon Patriarca alias Usting, deputy secretary and finance officer of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros or the regional committee in the island.
Apitomg said Patriarca has a warrant of arrest for 10 counts of murder with Criminal Cases numbers 20652-20661 issued by Judge Suseco A Arcam of Regional Trial Court Branch 47, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The two others were identified as Carmen Jonahville Matarlo alias Loisa/Avon, Regional Communication of Central Negros Front 2 and John Micheal Baldonado alias Calvin/Clent/Harold/Getic, Regional Communication of Central Negros Front 1.
They were captured during a joint operation of the 303rd Infantry Brigade and the police in serving the arrest warrant.
Reportedly seized from them were a hand grenade, a KG9 machine pistol, three “NPA Mao caps, a flag of the National Democratic Front, and hundreds of live bullets for an AK47 rifle.
Soldiers turned over the three alleged rebels to the Himamaylan Police Office where they are now being detained.
