Gov’t forces capture alleged NPA leader in Sorsogon

Delfin Mallari Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau, PDI

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — A suspected leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sorsogon province was captured by combined elements of police and Army soldiers Wednesday, a regional military spokesman said Thursday.

Army Major Randolph Cabangbang of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command based in Camp Nakar here identified the apprehended rebel as Ted Palacio alias “Ka James,” alleged finance officer and political instructor of NPA Front Committee 80 under the Communist Party of the Philippines-Sorsogon provincial committee.

A military report said combined personnel of the 509th Police Mobile Group, led by Chief Inspector Alvin Gruba, and the Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, commanded by a Lieutenant Vallescas, encountered a band of around 40 communist guerrillas in Sitio (sub-village) Omistad in Barangay Coron-Coron in Matnog town.

Palacio was captured as the rebels retreated after a 45-minute firefight, the report said.

The government forces suffered no casualty, according to Cabangbang.

The suspect is now under police custody and will be initially charged with illegal possession of firearms.

The government forces recovered one M16 rifle, improvised bombs with detonating cords, four backpacks and subversive documents of “high intelligence value,” Cabangbang said.

Major General Jeffrey Sodusta, chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said despite the NPA’s claim that they control the area, villagers provided the government forces information on the rebels’ presence.