MANILA, Philippines — Police have arrested former Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leader Rodolfo Salas, also known as “Kumander Bilog” in Angeles City, Pampanga province on Tuesday early morning for murder.
Salas, 72, was served an arrest warrant for 29 counts of murder in connection with the Inopacan massacre in Leyte which were allegedly committed by the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP in the 1980s.
The arrest warrant was served at 5:50 a.m. by six units of police, including elite troops, a police report said.
Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in Manila issued the arrest warrant on Aug. 28, 2018, which stemmed from two criminal cases.
Police said the service of the warrant was peacefully served and was witnessed by a barangay official.
But the wife of Salas said no warrant was shown and that Salas was allegedly shoved into a white van.
A search of the former CPP leader’s house led to the confiscation of a caliber .45 pistol, 174 rounds of ammunition, and two magazines for a caliber .45 caliber pistol, police said.
Salas is currently detained and will also be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Salas was first arrested in 1986 but was later granted amnesty by former President Fidel Ramos. He was released after eight years in detention.
READ: Manila court orders arrest of CPP’s Joma, 37 others over 80s ‘purge’