NPA big fish arrested in SouthMin

By DPAO, 10th Infantry Division, PA
June 12, 2010

CAMP FELIX APOLINARIO, Panacan, Davao City  –  A New People’s Army (NPA) leader was arrested by authorities in a checkpoint in the village of Madaum in Tagum City 1:30 PM Friday.

Mario Cabatlao alias Jomar, secretary of Local Terrorist Front-15 of the NPA was arrested by joint elements of 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine National Police (PNP) of Madaum and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11. Recovered in the possession of Cabatlao were an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a fragmentation grenade.

Cabatlao was arrested by virtue of Warrants of Arrest in Criminal Cases 3432, 3433, 3483, 3484, 3485 and 3486 for multiple murder and attempted murder in his involvement in many NPA atrocities committed against the law and the people particularly in the towns of Baganga, Manay, Caraga and Taragona all in Davao Oriental province.

MajGen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division lauded police and soldiers who made the arrest as he reminded criminals that law enforcement efforts will continue to bring them to justice. “We take pride in the efforts and patience of our soldiers and policemen who painstakingly took it upon themselves that justice for our people will be served. May this bring warning to all criminals, murderers, kidnappers and bandits like the NPA that the long arms of the law will eventually catch-up with you and your crimes will not go unpunished.” Holganza said.

“This is a welcome development as the whole nation celebrates our independence. May all criminals fall in the hands of the authorities so that our people may be free from terrorism and other crimes which these criminals commit against our country” Holganza added.

Cabatlao is the third NPA leader to fall in the hands of authorities in Southern Mindanao this year.

Zaldy Canete alias Jingoy, a celebrated case of child combatant who was recruited at the age of 13 and who rose steadily and quickly in the ranks of the NPA surrendered after being wounded in a gunbattle with the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte January of this year.

Renelo Creita alias Jaguar who is responsible in planning and executing the ambush in Maragusan town which claimed the lives of five individuals and wounded a dozen others which was tagged by people as the “Maragusan Massacre” fell in the hands of joint elements of the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion and CIDG 11, PNP in May.

Like Cabatlao, authorities also found an IED fashioned as landmine and a hand grenade in the possession of Creita together with a caliber .45 pistol.

Authorities say the use of IED is a violation of International Humanitarian Law as it endangers the life of non-combatants specially that NPAs are planting said bombs along roadnets and bridges.