Suspected communist rebel nabbed in Cagayan

SANTO NIÑO, Cagayan — A suspected communist rebel was arrested in Centro Norte village in this town on Thursday (Dec. 17), a belated police report said on Saturday (Dec. 19).

Rommel Mariano, 42, whom authorities said was also a rebel named Bawag Infante, 42, was arrested by the police and the military on the strength of an arrest warrant for attempted murder, which was issued by Judge Neljoe Cortes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Aparri town, said Police Lt. Joel Guban, Sto Niño police chief.

Last weekend, another suspected rebel had surrendered in Abariongan Uneg village in this town.

Allen Guitang, 19, claimed he joined the New People’s Army unit led by Ferdinand Bautista alias Ka Simoy on Sept. 7, and had completed a month-long training program in the mountains of Baggao.

Guitang said he fought soldiers in an encounter at Rizal town’s Bural village in Cagayan province. Villamor Visaya Jr.