2 NPA leaders nabbed

MANILA, Philippines–The military and the police have captured two high-ranking leaders of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) who have various pending criminal cases in court in Davao del Sur.

Nabbed in a joint operation in Barangay (village) Sinaragan, Matanao, Davao del Sur, early morning on Friday were Raunil Mortejo, aka Nestor or Angkol; and Jasmin Badilla, aka Antali.

The two were arrested in their rented house in Barangay Sinaragan by virtue of warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and in another case for robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons. The warrants were issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

The arrested NPA leaders are now detained at the Matanao Municipal Police Station.

Mortejo was the leader of the NPA unit who kidnapped Staff Sgt. Bienvenido Arguelles Jr. of the 25th Infantry Battalion last June 19, 2010 at Crossing Matabas, Sitio (settlement) Depot, in Barangay Ulip, Monkayo, also in Compostela Valley.

At the time of their arrest, Mortejo was the commander of the Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 8 while Badilla was the head of the Regional Medical Staff of the NPA in Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC). Found in their possession were an improvised explosive device, one M33 fragmentation grenade and one .45-cal. pistol loaded with live ammunitions.