Policemen who were backed by soldiers arrested three alleged high ranking members of the New People’s Army guerilla organization in General Santos City on Sunday evening.
A belated report reaching Philippine National Police chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., identified the suspects as Ruben Saluta, Presentacion Saluta and Yvonne Losaria.
The three were arrested at Barangay Labangal, General Santos City at around 9 p.m. by members of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Azurin said the policemen served multiple warrants of arrest for rebellion, murder, frustrated murder, multiple murder that were issued by a local court in Antique.
“I would like to commend our personnel in CIDG who are continuously hunting these criminals to prevent them from committing other hideous crimes and ensure the security of the public,” Azurin said.
“The arrest of these wanted persons is a step closer to our desire to keep our communities safe and secure from armed terrorists who are being sought by the law for crimes,” he added.
The PNP accused Ruben Saluta as being the secretary of the National Propaganda Commission, CPP Central Committee, and former secretary of Panay Regional Party Committee. The police, meanwhile, alleges that Presentacion heads the Komiteng Rehyonal Panay (KR- Panay).
Authorities also accuse Losaria of being the leader of Sentro-De-Gravidad, Guerilla Front 35, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).
Azurin said recovered from the three rebels were three M-16 rifles, two M-14 rifles, nine assorted Magazine assemblies with ammunition; a hand grenade, various cellular phones, sim cards, ammunition, and rebel document.
