INQUIRER PHOTO
A ranking official of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has fallen into government hands, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.
In a post on its Twitter account, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said CPP-NPA secretary general Adelberto Silva was arrested in Bacoor City, Cavite, on Monday.
This has been confirmed in a statement by AFP public affairs officer Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc who said Silva was arrested by the combined elements of the AFP and the PNP CIDG.
Silva was arrested at about 11:10 p.m. through a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 18 of Hilangos, Leyte.
Silva faces charges of murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and multiple murder.
Following his arrest, authorities recovered from his possession three rifle grenades, subversive documents, improvised bomb components and several electronic devices.
Silva is the current head of national organization development of CPP central committee and is seen to be the next leader of NPA, replacing arrested chair Benito Tiamzon.
Tiamzon, along with his wife Wilma, were arrested in March 2014.
According to the CIDG, Silva was captured with two companions but did not immediately identify them. Ma. Rhona Ysabel B. Daoang, John Lester Alos/CB/RC
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