Alleged communist group member arrested in Bukidnon

An alleged member of a terrorist group accused of burning a church and several houses in 2020 was arrested in Bukidnon, said the Philippine National Police. — File photo

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged member of a terrorist group accused of burning a church and several houses in 2020 was arrested in Bukidnon, said the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a recent statement, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)  identified the suspect as Christopher Batnan, who was arrested by its Misamis Oriental and Camiguin provincial field units in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon on April 20.

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According to the CIDG, the suspect was wanted for Violation of Republic Act (RA) 9851 for the alleged burning of a church and houses in 2020.

“He is tagged as the Number 5 regional most wanted person of Police Regional Office 10,” the CIDG said.

On May 28, 2020, alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), entered the home of a pastor and burned down both his house and the church he was serving at, along with two adjacent houses, according to the CIDG.

This ensued after a 30-minute gunfight with police and soldiers hours before.

“The act of burning civilian houses was the CNTs’ (CPP-NPA terrorists) deceptive tactic to divert the attention of the pursuing government troops and the community. This is to cover their escape from the continuous military pursuit operation,” the CIDG said.

“The CNTs intentionally directed attacks against civilian population and intentionally attacked civilian objects — a blatant violation of RA 9851,” it added.

The CIDG Misamis Oriental provincial field unit filed a complaint for violation of RA 9851 against Batnan and other alleged CNTs, which resulted in a warrant of arrest issued on Jan. 17, 2022.