World · Philippines Bureau
Senior NPA commander arrested in Surigao del Sur operation
Joint police and military forces have apprehended a high-ranking New People's Army leader in a Saturday evening raid in Mindanao. The suspect, identified by the alias 'Jepoy,' was the second most wanted rebel in the Caraga region.
LSN Philippines ·
Authorities arrested the 53-year-old suspect at approximately 9:15 p.m. on September 5 in Barangay Sudlon, Barobo town, Surigao del Sur, according to police reports released Monday. The operation involved combined elements from police and military units targeting the suspect's position in the remote barangay.
The arrest marks a significant development in ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the Caraga region, which comprises Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur provinces. Officials identified the detainee as a high-level member of the communist rebel group.
The suspect was the second most wanted NPA operative in the Caraga region at the time of the arrest. Details regarding the investigation leading to the operation and subsequent charges were not immediately available. The case adds to a series of operations against rebel groups operating in eastern Mindanao.