Three leaders of the New People's Army were arrested in separate operations by Philippine security forces last Friday. Two of the communist leaders were nabbed in Davao del Sur while the other was apprehended in Bukidnon.Lt. Vergel Lacambra said a joint military and police operation resulted in the capture of militants Raunil Nudalo Mortejo and Jasmin Castor Badilla in Matanao, Davao Del Sur.
In a text message, Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año said, "The arrest will create a huge leadership vacuum in the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee because they cannot easily replace these high-valued cadres. It would also affect the morale of NPA fighters as they start to develop doubts among themselves regarding their security situation."
Mortejo, also known by the aliases "Nestor" and "Angkol," was the leader of the NPA unit that abducted a member of the 25th Infantry Battalion in 2010 in Monkayo, Compostela Valley. Lacambra said Mortejo's unit also murdered two soldiers of the 67th Infantry Battalion in Baganga, Davao Oriental last October.
Badilla, who uses the alias "Antali," has been accused of robbing and intimidating a leader of a cooperative.
The third NPA leader was arrested by security forces in Barangay Lumintao in Quezon, Bukidnon. Maj. Ezra Balagtey identified the arrested militant as Reboy Gandinao. He said Gandinao is facing murder and multiple frustrated murder charges.