Top north north Luzon NPA leader arrested

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A high-ranking New People’s Army leader with P1, 850, 000 bounty on his head was captured by lawmen here around 4:30 a.m. June 18 at Tabangaoen, Balili.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez identified the insurgent leader as Corsio E. Ganima alias Ka Tribal/Toy-ob, 55, of Lacmaan, Besao,Mountain Province.

Ganima was reportedly the commanding officer of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) operating in tri-boundaries of Abra, Mt. Province, and Ilocos Sur.

 Ganima was charged for six counts of murder under the sala of Judge Artemio B Marrero, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 35, in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

A case for rebellion is also pending against him at the sala of Judge Manuel B Bragado of the RTC, Branch 35, Bontoc, Mt. Province.

Police said the suspect with his men ambushed a military convoy that escorted the body of a dead soldier to his hometown in Barangay Tucucan, Mt. Province.

When they are about to return to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija  passing Sitio Saddle, Talubin,  they were ambushed which resulted to death of nine soldiers in July 14, 2003.

Ganima was arrested by members of Regional Intelligence Unit and Intelligence Division, Mountain Province Intelligence Branch and La Trinidad, Municipal Police Station.

Meanwhile, Nerez urged members of the NPA to lay down their arms and return to the comfort of their families and assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in bringing peace in the country.

He also told his men to remain alert at all times for retaliatory attacks of the rebels.

Nerez urged the public to help police by providing information on presence of  armed groups in their locality through social media (Twitter-@PNPCordillera or Facebook Page- PioProcor, or through the following numbers: Complaint Referral -094765880 / 09174297628; Regional Tactical Operation Center  074) 422-5515; 09175302679/ 09285591669.