Man tagged as NPA official arrested in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — An alleged high-ranking official of the New People’s Army was arrested by the government troops at about 5 a.m, Tuesday, in Barangay (village) Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

General Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Brigade commander, identified the alleged NPA official as Biboy Espinas, “alias Miro and Richard” of Sitio Cunalom in Barangay Carabalan.

“The government troops saw four men, one of them holding a handgun as they approach Sitio Cunalom to conduct community security patrol.”  Patrimonio said in a statement.

He said the troops immediately apprehended the person with a gun and later identified him as Espinas while his three companions, whose names were not disclosed, were released.

A .38 caliber revolver with five ammunitions and subversive documents were recovered from Espinas when he was arrested, military records showed.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Espinas was wanted for his alleged participation in the murder of Lt. Archie Polenzo of the 62nd Infantry Battalion about four years ago in Cadiz City.

Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Renato Muñez had issued a warrant of arrest for Espinas on the charge of murder. Muñez also denied him bail.

Former rebels in Negros Occidental who have joined the mainstream society identified Biboy Espinas as a member of the finance bureau of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros (KR-N) and former spokesperson of the Northern Negros Front, Patrimonio said.

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