2 alleged top rebel group leaders in Southern Tagalog nabbed

INQUIRER.net stock photo

LUCENA CITY — Government forces arrested Monday two alleged top leaders of communist insurgents in the Southern Tagalog Region, a police official said.

Police Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, Police Regional Office 4-A director, identified the arrested rebels as Ernesto Lorenzo and Rosita Celino-Serrano, alleged ranking officials of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee.

Yarra said the two and an alias “Gigi”, whose identity is still subject to verification, were arrested at Nayong Pilipino in Pasay City early morning Monday.

According to the police report, the three were in the area for their COVID-19 vaccination when they were nabbed by combined police operatives and Army soldiers armed with warrants of arrest.

Report said Lorenzo alias “Adil”, has two outstanding warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and attempted murder issued by Judge Napoleon Matienzo of Regional Trial Court in Gumaca, Quezon with no bail recommended.

Celino-Serrano alias “Ester”, “Bebang”, “Tonying”, “Norming”, and “Pola” likewise has a pending warrant of arrest and also has a P5 million cash reward for her capture.

Yarra described their arrest as “timely.”

“We are just taking steps in securing the upcoming election in May by putting behind bars the possible threats in the region,” Yarra said. INQ

RELATED STORY

Alleged NPA rebel, also Calabarzon’s most wanted, falls in Quezon