Top NPA leader in Quezon nabbed

LUCENA CITY—A suspected leader of the New People’s Army in Quezon who allegedly led the daring assault at the provincial jail four years ago was captured in Lopez, Quezon, on Saturday, said Colonel Eduardo Año, head of the Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade.

Miguela Piñero, 45, alias “Ka Migs/Lala,” was arrested by police and Army soldiers in Barangay (village) Calantipayan, Lopez, at around 1:15 p.m., Año said.

Año described Ms. Piñero as the “top commander of all NPA forces in Quezon” and a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Southern Tagalog regional party commission.

Año said a villager tipped off the authorities about the location of the wanted NPA leader.

As the government forces were serving Piñero’s four warrants of arrest for murder charges, her aide identified as Joey Ortiz opened fire at the arresting team and escaped, Año said.

Piñero is detained at the police jail in Lopez town, he said.—Delfin T. Mallari Jr.