2 ranking NPA members arrested in Tagum City

TAGUM CITY—The military has arrested two ranking members of the communist New People’s Army here on Tuesday.

Ariel Arbitrario and Crispolo Arbitrario were apprehended at a checkpoint in Madaum village here by joint army and police operatives around 11:15 a.m., according to Capt. Rhyan Batchar, public affairs officer of the army’s 10th Infantry Division.

The two were arrested by virtue of arrest warrants issued by a regional trial court in Compostela Valley for murder.

Batchar said Ariel, who also goes by the alias of Marlon, is the secretary of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 2, while Crispolo alias Calvin is a member of the rebels’ Special Operations Group (SOG), Sub-Commitee 2 (SRC) operating in Compostela Valley.

The Arbitrarios were allegedly involved in NPA-initiated incidents and killings in the towns of Maco, Mabini and Pantukan, all in Compostela Valley, said Maj. General Rafael Valencia, 10th ID commander.

Two handguns, explosives and a handheld radio were recovered from the suspects, said Batchar.

“The arrest of these NPA members manifest that the long arm of the law will ultimately catch up with (them) to face justice,” Valencia said in a statement.

Batchar said the suspected rebels are now under the custody of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao del Norte and are set to face additional charges of violating the election gun ban.

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