Top 3 CPP leader in Central Luzon falls

By George Trillo

BAMBAN, Tarlac — A ranking communist rebel leader, who had succeeded in eluding arrest for several years, was nabbed by joint elements of Philippine Army and Region 3 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group here Oct. 12.

Reports reaching Col. Jose Mabanta Jr., commander of the 703rd Infantry “Agila” Brigade of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said Danilo Jose Castañeda, alias “Ka Baste,” the No. 3 man of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Central Luzon, was arrested 5 p.m. on the strength of two arrest warrants for different murder cases.

Probers seized from the suspect a hand grenade, a blue belt bag, and communist documents.

Officials said Ka Baste, who also uses the aliases Delfin de Guzman and Efren Montanan Dela Lamon, was captured after a tip from a concerned citizen after the suspect visited his alleged live-in partner here.

Mabanta described Ka Baste as “an icon of the underground,” who started as a member of the Kabataang Makabayan in 1979.

He said as secretary of Sangay sa Partido sa Platoon (SPP) Bulacan, Castañeda the suspect supervises the group’s operations in Pampanga, South Zambales, and Bataan.

Mabanta said Ka Baste used other names like Delfin de Guzman and Efren Montana dela Lamon.