Five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA), two of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds, were arrested during a warrant service operation along the Circumferential Road in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) confirmed on Thursday.
The group was involved in an armed encounter with the 79th Infantry Battalion in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday from which they had initially managed to escape, the PRO NIR said in a press statement.
The five were among the NPA combatants in Toboso, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said.
The five, now under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, were identified as:
*Glenmar Bacusmo, 48, of Purok Golden Shower, Brgy. Poblacion Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Squad Leader of the North Negros Front (NNF);
*Danny Boy Baguio, 25, of Sitio Bulason Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, and Squad Leader of Central Negros 2 (CN2);
*Judy Caramihan, 34, of Sitio Buli, Brgy. Bagonbon, San Carlos City;
*Julie Ann Balora, 26, of Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Murcia; and
*Jerome Seballos, 57, of Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City.
Bacusmo and Caramihan were injured, a police official who asked not to be identified said.
Caramihan had shrapnel wounds on the back and Bacusmo had a gunshot wound on the lower part of his nape, and will be referred for hospital confinement, the source said.
Operatives were serving an arrest warrant for attempted murder against Bacusmo when four additional individuals were apprehended after firearms and explosives were found in their possession, the PRO NIR said.
Bacusmo is ranked second among the Regional Most Wanted Persons for the crimes of theft, robbery, multiple frustrated murder, multiple murder, crimes against humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity, and attempted murder, the PRO NIR said.
Authorities recovered four .45 caliber pistols, live ammunition, and hand grenades from them, the PRO added.
The suspects were informed of their constitutional rights and are currently under CIDG custody.
PRO-NIR described the mission as a “high-impact operation” that deals a substantial blow to the leadership and operational capability of Communist Terrorist Groups in the region.
The operation, conducted under COPLAN “Head Strike,” was led by the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-NIR in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit, the Regional Intelligence Unit, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force, the Talisay City Component Police Station and the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.*
[sibwp_form id=1]