• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) reported on Friday (April 26) the arrest of three suspected remnants of the dismantled New People’s Army (NPA) Northern Negros Front (NNF) on April 25 in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.
They were identified as Jundel Alforque, 21, his 17-year-old brother, and their 16-year-old first cousin.
The joint law enforcement operation of the 79IB and the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC) in Sitio Humayan, Barangay Pinowayan also resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition, including a KG-9 submachine gun, a KG-45 submachine gun, two caliber .45 pistols, a caliber .38 revolver, three 12-gauge shotguns, assorted magazines of firearms containing ammunition, and ammunition box.
Initial police investigation showed that the arrested rebel suspects were involved in a shooting incident on March 28 also in Barangay Pinowayan.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the collaborative efforts of the 79IB and the 1st NOCPMFC that led to the capture of the rebel remnants.
While two of the arrested rebel suspects are minors, they should still be held accountable for the crimes they committed, he added.
“Their capture will bring justice to the victims of their illicit actions and other atrocities,” Sison said. | GB
