PNP: Suspected communist rebel leader, 4 others arrested in Negros Occidental

Authorities have arrested a suspected communist rebel leader and four others in Talisay, Negros Occidental, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said authorities served the arrest warrant against the alleged rebel leader on April 22, days after the military reported that 19 suspected New People's Army rebels were killed following a reported encounter in the municipality of Toboso on April 19. 

“Siya po ay may warrant na sinerve na (The rebel leader has a warrant for) attempted murder,” Tuaño said.

“The same operation resulted in the arrest of four other individuals and the confiscation of firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices,” he added.

The identities of the five individuals were not disclosed at the press briefing.

Among the fatalities in the supposed Toboso encounter included University of the Philippines-Diliman student leader Alyssa Alano and journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma.

READ: Who is Alyssa Alano?

The Philippine Army earlier maintained that there were no civilians killed in the incident.

“Ano ang ginagawa ng mga sinasabi nilang journalist, social workers, faculty members, spokesperson ng mga progresibong grupo sa loob ng encounter site na may mga bitbit na baril at nakikipagbarilan sa ating mga sundalo?” Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala told GMA News Online in a message.

(What were the people they're saying were a journalist, social workers, faculty members, spokesperson of a progressive group doing in the encounter site bearing firearms and shooting it out with government troops?)

“Yan ang tanong ko sa kanila (That's my question to them),” he added.

However, the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command disputed the military’s account, saying that only a small number of those killed were armed fighters and that some of them were civilians.

Still, Dema-ala stressed taht that soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) acted professionally and in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. — RSJ, GMA News