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Ka Roger Rosal’s daughter arrested in Caloocan


Authorities on Thursday arrested another suspected communist leader — Andrea Rosal, daughter of the late rebel spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal.

The eight-month-pregnant Rosal was arrested together with several others in a house in Barangay 169 in Caloocan City, a report on GMA News' “24 Oras” said.

In a statement, military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said arrested with Rosal were her security escort identified only as Che, and barangay chairman Ruben Gatchalian, the alleged owner the house where Rosal's group was staying.

Rosal and her companions were arrested by the combined forces of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Organized Crime Division (NBI-AOCD) around 7 a.m. on Thursday.

The military said Rosal, who allegedly uses the aliases “Naiya” and “Liam,” was arrested by virtue of warrants of arrest issued in Mauban, Quezon, for cases of kidnapping and murder. The military said Rosal was also implicated in an attempted homicide case filed in Luisiana-Cavinti court in Laguna.

Baseless accusations

Rosal denied committing any crime.

“Hindi ko nga po alam kung saan galing yung accusation nila na yun. Wala naman akong kini-kidnap, wala naman akong pinapatay. Masasabi ko po yan ng harap-harapan sa kanila,” Rosal said in an interview with “24 Oras.”

Asked if she is a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), Rosal replied, “Sabi nila.”

The military said Rosal is a ranking leader of the CPP-NPA Southern Tagalog Region, and is believed to be the secretary of the Komite Larangan Guerilla Sub Regional Military Area -Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee.

The ISAFP and NBI-AOCD first conducted a surveillance operation on Rosal and her companions, which led to their arrest after dining in a local restaurant, the “24 Oras” report said.

The NBI and ISAFP are set to give full details on Rosal's arrest as well as information on her alleged illegal activities in Metro Manila on Friday, according to “24 Oras.”

The military, meanwhile, assured that Rosal and her companions will be treated well.

“Extensive attention was given by her arresting officers as Andrea is pregnant and due for delivery within this month,” Zagala said.

Communist leaders

Last Saturday, couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, chairman and secretary general, respectively, of the CPP-NPA, were arrested by authorities in Cebu.

Rosal's father, Ka Roger, died in 2011 and was believed to be behind the communist attacks in Southern Tagalog region during the 1980's and 1990's, the “24 Oras” report said.

Military estimates show the strength of the CPP-NPA at 4,347 members, down from more than 26,000 in the late 1980s.  — Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News

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