Alleged NPA rebel leader, wife nabbed in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY – An alleged leader of the New People’s Army and his wife were arrested on Sunday in the Cagayan town of Calayan, police said on Monday.

Edison Erese and his wife Divina were served arrest warrants by the police at Sitio (subvillage) Nagtapulan in Naguilian village.

The warrants were issued over charges of illegal possession of firearms, qualified assault upon a person in authority and attempted murder which are being heard by the Regional Trial Court-Branch 1 in Tuguegarao City and for an arson case issued by the judge of Regional Trial Court-Branch 8 in Aparri town.

Erese is allegedly a staff member of the NPA Regional Operations Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon in Cagayan Valley while Divina was reportedly a former medical officer of the Danilo Ben Command-West Committee which operates in the region, said Senior Supt. Warren Tolito, Cagayan provincial police director.

Erese replaced Victorio Tesorio who was killed in a gunfight in Tarlac province early this year.

Seized from the couple were two Cal. 45 pistols and two hand grenades, police said.

Erese and his wife were brought to the Cagayan field office of the Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.