SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur – A high ranking officer of the communist New People’s Army and an amazon were captured by elements of the Philippine Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion in sitio Caset, barangay Maradodon, Cabugao town last Wednesday.
Lt. Colonel Hardl N. Cabreros, commanding officer of the 5oth Infantry battalion based at San Juan, Ilocos Sur, identified the rebel leader as Edgardo Laygo, 45, alias “Eloi”, secretary of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangan Guerilla (KLG) Villar operating in Ilocos provinces.
In his report to Colonel Loreto Riraro, commanding officer of the 503rd Army Brigade based in Sulvec, Narvacan town, Cabreros identified Laygo as a native of barangay Central West, Bauang, La Union.
Cabreros also identified the captured amazon as Rochelle Rabina, 26, alyas “Diane”, who is claiming to b a pastor of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) and resident of barangay Baruyen, Bangui, Ilocos Norte.
In his report, Cabreros said the presence of the rebel leaders in barangay Maradodon was tipped off to Army troopers by residents in the area.
Army troopers immediately conducted a foot patrol in the area and were able to catch up with Laygo and Rabina while they were walking down a trail from the mountain.
Soldiers recovered from Laygo a caliber 45 pistol, a laptop computer, one ICOM Radio, a compact disc, flashlights and assorted subversive documents.
Cabreros said based on testimonies of rebel returnees whom he did not identify, Laygo is the highest leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army operating in the two districts of Ilocos Sur and other neighboring Ilocos provinces.
Cabreros said Laygo was identified by the rebel returnees as the one who gave orders for the conduct of terroristic activities such as assassination, ambuscades and attacks on the military and police stations, burning cell sites and other communication installations; and collections of revolutionary taxes from political leaders, businessmen and farmers.
Cabreros assured the safety of the captured rebels inside his camp while they are awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against them.
“We strictly follow due process,” he said.
Meanwhile, the father of Rabina blamed the higher leaders of the UCCP on what had happened to his daughter.
Desiderio Rabina, a farmer, said that his daughter Rochelle was his third eldest child, who studied preaching course at UCCP Baguio City for four years.