TWO COMMUNIST guerrillas were arrested in a joint AFP-PNP operation in St. Andrew, Purok 23-B, Isla Suerte, Barangay 76-A on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Major Ruben Gadut, the 10th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said they served the arrest warrant against Benny Flores Mendoza, a political instructor of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) Executive Committee.
The warrant, CC No. 10-2021 MNK/FC RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012), was filed at RTC Branch 11, Branch 56, Compostela, Davao de Oro.
The operation also led to the arrest of another SMRC member, identified as Francisco Rotol Sud-ongan, who was allegedly carrying a .45-caliber pistol and a fragmentation grenade during the operation.
The two suspects are now in the custody of CIDG XI headquarters at San Pedro, Davao City.
Major General Allan Hambala, commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said the operation highlighted the strong collaboration with the PNP in maintaining regional peace.
“The dwindling remnants of the SMRC are experiencing a leadership vacuum since Region XI was declared insurgency-free,” said Hambala. “The 10th Infantry Division will continue to intensify its Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support (PLEDS) operations with other sectors to prevent the resurgence of communist terrorist groups.”
In the last quarter of 2024 alone, four high-ranking NPA officials were apprehended in joint AFP-PNP operations. They are identified as Ruel Villanueva Cabales (alias Aman), SMRC secretary; Catherine Apares Guinoo (alias Dewen), deputy secretary and member of the SMRC Execom; and Porferio Tuna Jr. (alias Danny/Ampong/Ka Simon), 2nd deputy secretary.
Photo courtesy of 10th Infantry Division
