In a significant crackdown on insurgency, the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) has detained four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) between January 1 and January 19. This operation comes as part of an intensified effort to curb communist activities ahead of the 2025 national and local elections, according to PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano.
The arrested individuals include a squad leader and three other members, all facing charges ranging from murder to arson. Among them is ‘Seren,’ a 36-year-old squad leader from the now-disbanded NPA Guerrilla Front 88, part of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. Seren, hailing from San Luis, Agusan del Sur, was wanted for murder with an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City on November 19, 2020.
Another detainee, ‘Cheryl,’ aged 28, is a member of the NPA GF-30 under the same regional committee and a resident of Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Cheryl faces multiple charges including eight counts of murder, two counts of arson, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of frustrated murder, with warrants issued by the RTC Branch 41 in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.
The other two arrested rebels are ‘Makoy,’ a 23-year-old from the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16B of the dismantled GF-16 under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and ‘Babu,’ a 45-year-old from Platoon 7 of GF-19A, also under NEMRC. Makoy is wanted for two counts of murder and attempted murder, with warrants from RTC Branch 32 in Surigao City. Babu faces charges for two counts of murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and three counts of attempted murder.