NPA leader nabbed in Laguna; couple surrenders in Camarines Norte - PH Army

The Philippine Army said it captured an alleged leader of the New People’s Army who was behind attacks against military and police bases in Southern Luzon even as a married couple who led insurgents surrendered to authorities in Camarines Norte.

In Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, drone footage provided by the 9th Infantry Division showed soldiers in civilian clothes close in on a man who was hiding in a residential neighborhood in San Pedro, Laguna. 

Via radio communication, the drone operator directed the soldiers in an alley to the target’s location.    

After a few moments, the team leader on the ground radioed back that they captured the suspected insurgent identified as “Ka Bhem” who the military tagged as involved in attacks against soldiers and policemen in the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions.

"Nag lay low ito sa kanilang grupo sa Sorsogon... subalit may info tayo na nasagap... nag coordinate tayo, said Major Frank Roldan, chief of the 9th ID Public Affairs Division

(He was laying low from his group in Sorsogon... but we received information and we coordinated an operation [to capture him].)

Meanwhile, the Army said it was able to persuade a married couple who were also insurgent leaders to surrender peacefully in Labo, Camarines Norte.

Roldan said that to show their sincerity to authorities, Alias Pots and Alias Sab turned over two heavy machine guns: a .30-caliber and an M60.

The Army said Pots was a commanding officer who was responsible in directing combat operations while his wife Sab was a propagandist and a recruiter for those who wish to join the armed struggle against the government.  

GMA Integrated News is trying to get the side of the captured and surrendered rebel leaders. —RF, GMA Integrated News