NPA leader, wife nabbed in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A communist rebel leader who carries a P1.2 million bounty was recently nabbed during an operation in the hinterlands of this province.

Chief Supt. Orlando Pestaño, Cordillera police director said the arrest of Antonio Cagwayan, alias Senyas, Sali, Flor, Ulo, and Floyd was a product of hard work and intelligence cooperation among police and Army units in the region.

Cagwayan is the assistant secretary of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla Baggas and was charged with crimes of murder, multiple frustrated murder and less serious physical injuries before the 2nd Judicial Region Branch 25 of the Kalinga Regional Trial Court.
A warrant was issued for his arrest.

In his report to Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, Pes¬taño said Cagwayan was arrested in Sitio Monglo, Bayabas, Sablan town in Benguet around 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 25 by joint elements of the intelligence division of the Cordillera police, Regional Intelligence Unit 14 and 501st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.

Pestaño said a joint Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government order No. 08-2009 placed a P1,200,000 for his capture.

A follow-up operation conducted in the same area 11 hours later led to the surrender of Cagwayan’s rebel wife, Angelita Puyao Tayab, alias Angie, Regie, Ivy and Hannah.