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Suspected NPA recruiters nabbed in Agusan del Norte


Security forces on Saturday arrested a couple suspected of recruiting members for the New People's Army (NPA) in Northern Mindanao.

Authorities identified the suspects as Luzviminda Apolinaria, 45, and Aladin Apolinaria, 49, alleged members of the NPA's Sangay ng Partido sa Platun16A of the Northern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The suspects, who have standing warrant of arrest at the 10th Judicial Region Branch 34 of Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Sur, were arested in Purok 7, Barangay Mahayahay, Kitcharao town in Agusan del Norte at around 10:35 a.m.

Lieutenant Colonel Glen Aynera, commanding officer of the Army's 29th Infantry Battalion, said the couple are facing charges for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and the Anti-Child Abuse Law filed by three former members of the NPA allegedly recruited by the suspects.

The three former NPA members, who were minors when they were allegedly recruited by the couple, surrendered to the military in December 2016.

Aynera said two of the former NPA members were only 15 years old and 17 years old when they joined the communist group after being recruited by the couple.

Major General Ronald Villanueva, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said NPA recruiters go to far-flung areas and cities to scout for teenagers to be recruited.

Villanueva said some of the NPA's young recruits were students at universities. —report from Merlyn Manos/ALG, GMA News

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