Authorities nab alleged NPA rebel with cache of explosives in Quirino

Brig. Gen. Perfecto Rimando (third from left), commanding general of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, explains to the media the destructive force of the anti-personnel mines that were seized from a suspected New People’s Army rebel in a remote mountain village in Maddela town, Quirino province on Thursday morning, February 15, 2018. (Inquirer Northern Luzon/ Melvin Gascon)

BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA—A suspected member of the New People’s Army was arrested on Thursday morning when police found a cache of high powered explosives in his house at Maddela town in Quirino province.

Also seized from Kevin Nilo’s home in remote Jose Ancheta village were several mobile telephones, including the device used by the Maddela police for a text hotline which was among the items taken by NPA rebels from a police station in April 2017.

Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, Cagayan Valley police director, said Nilo’s arrest prevented a series of planned roadside bombing activities by the rebels.

“With this successful operation, we have prevented what would have been a bloody attack against our forces. They were really after us,” he said.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Isabela Judge Bonifacio Ong of the Regional Trial Court in Echague town, a raiding team found 10 pieces of improvised anti-tank explosive devices and 14 pieces of anti-personnel mines, complete with blasting devices and cords.

They also seized a laptop and a pile of documents, including copies of “Ang Bayan”, the publication of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

A statement issued by human rights group Karapatan in Cagayan Valley described Nilo as a farmer, and criticized his arrest for being “illegal” and as harassment against residents suspected to be supporting the rebel group.