Cops arrest 2 suspected CPP leaders in QC

Photos from Quezon City Police District Public Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — A couple, who later turned out to be officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), were apprehended on Tuesday afternoon after they prevented authorities from arresting their wanted companion in Quezon City.

The Quezon City Police identified those arrested as as Alexander Ramonita Kintanar Birondo, 67, and wife Winona Marie Oñate Birondo, 60.

Earlier, operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrived at the couple’s house in Barangay Mariblo at about 5:30 p.m. to serve an arrest warrant for murder on Rolando Caballero alias “Jet.”

During the service of the warrant, police said the couple interfered with the arresting team and allowed Caballero to escape.

Police said they also seized a caliber .45 pistol; magazine; seven live ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, a rifle grenade and a detonating cord from the couple’s house.

The arrested couple was then brought to the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit while appropriate charges are being prepared against them.

Initial police investigation showed that Winona is allegedly the secretary of the CPP-NPA’s National Propaganda Commission while Alexander is a staff of the CPP’s National Education Department.

Police also found that the Birondo couple was arrested on March 4, 2015 along with suspected communist leader Ruben Saluta. Police said the couple were later released to participate as consultants of the National Democratic Front in the failed peace talks in Oslo, Norway.

Quezon City Police District chief Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said a follow-up operation was launched to go after Caballero. /muf