Soldiers, cops capture 3 high-ranking NPA leaders in Conner, Apayao

Conner, Apayao – There is no escaping for three identified high-ranking officials of a ‘notorious New People’s Army faction’ after they were intercepted by government troops in Conner, Apayao earlier this week.

5th Infantry Division revealed that the three rebels captured were ‘key members’ of the Regional Guerilla Unit/Regional Operations Command of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee(ICRC) which they described to be a ‘notorious NPA’ branch operating in Northern Luzon.

The personalities were identified as Alias ‘Sam’ who is said to be a Commanding Officer of the Regional Sentro De Grabidad of the ICRC; ‘Tanya’ who is a political instructor; and ‘Annie’ who is tagged as the organizer and head of education of the weakened KLG Baggas.  

The three high-ranking officers encountered the authorities after a concerned individual tipped the 503rd Infantry Brigade about the presence of a supposed armed group in their area. This called for a focused military operation which resulted in the interception of the three in Manag, Conner on October 08, 2024.

The authorities also reported they confiscated war materials from the three personalities. These include two M16A1 rifles with ammunition, hand grenades, explosives, and personal belongings.  

5th ID Commander, MGen. Gulliver Señires, in a statement, expressed that the arrest of the three NPA officials is crucial to the dismantlement of the remaining guerilla fronts in Northern Luzon. He likewise reiterated the government’s call for the remaining rebels to come down the mountains and surrender to start living a peaceful life with their loved ones.