5 ranking NPA leaders nabbed in Santiago City

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya– Five ranking members of the communist New People’s Army, including their political officer and top propagandist, were arrested by joint Army-police operatives in neighboring Santiago City last week.

Maj. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, chief of the Army’s Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division identified the two captured top regional leaders of the traditionally Maoist NPA as Alan Sia alias Ka Jasper, first deputy secretary of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley-Southern Front; and his wife Marvie Valencia, alias Ka Midas, a second deputy secretary and political officer.

The two were arrested, along with three other suspected rebels, by joint elements of the Army’s 502nd Infantry Brigade, 45th Infantry Battalion and the Santiago City police at their safehouse in Purok 7, Balintocatoc, Santiago City early morning on August 20.

Also arrested were Freddie Ruiz alias Ka DR; his party wife Jacky Valencia, a medical officer; and Marilag Juana Daniel alias Ka Luna, education propagandist and communications officer.

In his report to Army chief Lt. General Delfin Bangit, Ochoa said the successful arrest of the suspected rebels was the fruit of months of surveillance work in coordination with the local police.

According to Ochoa, Ka Jasper, also known as Ka Aloi/Ariel/Robert in the underground movement, is a regular member of the NPA’s regional party executive committee (Execom). He was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant for double frustrated murder docketed as Criminal Case No. 24-1384, and another case at the regional trial court in Echague, Isabela.

Moreover, Ka Midas, also a regular member of the regional party Execom, was arrested for a bank robbery case and for illegal possession of firearms lodged against her at RTC Isabela. -- CL