Cops, soldiers nab female NPA leader in Negros Oriental

Nilda Bertulano alias Frea. Photo from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division

MANILA, Philippines – A female high ranking leader of the New People’s Army was arrested by combined forces of the police and military early Tuesday in Negros Oriental.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said Nilda Bertulano, known as Frea, was arrested in Crossing Tamisu in Bais City at about 4 a.m.

The NPA leader has an arrest warrant for cases of rebellion and murder filed in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. The murder case involved the killing of Lieutenant Archie Polenzo of Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion in 2010.

She was also involved in the burning of a transloading station in Negros Occidental in 2008. Also in the same year, she was involved in the raid on La Libertad police station in Negros Oriental.

She was aboard a motorcycle on her way to Mabinay in Negros Oriental when she was arrested by authorities.

Her former comrades in the NPA said she is the commanding officer of the Front Operational Command of Larangang Gerilya 1.