NPA rebel in ambush of Guingona’s mother falls

Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – One of the communist rebels behind the ambush of the former mayor of Gingoog City was arrested by government troops over the weekend in Misamis Oriental, the military said Monday.

Captain Alberto Caber, public information office chief of the Eastern  Mindanao Command, said Joel Yagao alias Jhong was arrested in Poblacion Villanueva on Sunday noon.

“Joel Yagao alias Jhong was identified by a rebel returnee as the NPA liaison officer of Guerilla 4B, North Central Mindanao Committee which is the same group that admitted responsibility in the attack of the convoy of Mayor Ruth Guingona,” he said.

Yagao was cornered at his safe house by the authorities who served the warrant of arrest on him for double and multiple frustrated murder, he added.

The ambush by the rebels on the convoy of Guingona last April left her wounded and two of her escorts dead.