‘Top NPA leader’ in Kalinga nabbed

BUGUIAS, Benguet-- Police recently arrested Kalinga’s purported top rebel leader Kennedy “Ka Akhbar” Bangibang at a checkpoint in Barangay Bangao here. Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera regional police director, said Bangibang, who carries a P2.5 million reward on his head, was on his way to a communist movement “plenum” in Sagada town, Mountain Province when held by policemen and military intelligence agents.

Magalong said Bangibang was alone when he was arrested Feb. 23.

Bangibang is the alleged secretary of the KilusangLarangangGerilya (Guerilla Front) codenamed “Baggas” operating in Kalinga and some parts of Apayao province.

“He has various cases to face in Kalinga,” Magalong said.

“Ka Akhbar” is the highest NPA leader arrested this year after Grayson Naogsan, son of Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF) spokesperson Simon Naogsan.

Naogsan, who had a P3.2 million reward on his head, was arrested by policemen inside a mall in Baguio City in November last year.

The Kalinga rebel leader is also an alleged member of the executive committee of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Party Committee of the CPP-NPA because of his rank in Kalinga province.