By ELDIE S. AGUIRRE,
Davao del Sur Bureau
MATANAO, Davao del Sur — A joint police and military operations in Barangay Buri on Wednesday morning led to the arrest of an alleged highanking communist leader in southern Mindanao following a brief firefight where another rebel was killed in the process, a military report said.
Lt. Col. Arnold Argamosa, commander of the Army’s 39th iInfantry Battalion (39IB) identified the New People’s Army leader as Joan Casamorin, a.k.a. Alvin, the deputy commander of Guerrilla Front 72 of the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee, whose guerrillas are operating in the hinterlands of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
The NPA rebel sustained a gunshot wound during the firefight, reason why the army rushed him to Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital for treatment.
“The successful arrest of the NPA leader sends a message that the community is working with the government in attaining a just and lasting peace in the area,” Argamosa said.
The military has identified the fatality as a certain Jebjeb.
Casamorin is facing charges for robbery; kidnapping and serious illegal detention; four counts of murder; and robbery with homicide in different courts according to the report that Police Chief Insp. Jose Teody Condesa, the provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed after the incident.
Condesa said Casamoin has multiple warrants of arrest for robbery in Criminal Case Number 1614-C of the 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Lutayan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; kidnapping and serious illegal detention in Criminal Case Number 7200-SN of RTC Branch-26 in Surallah, South Cotabato; murder in Criminal Case Number 236, 237, 238, 239 (2015) in RTC Branch-20 in Digos City, Davao del Sur; and robbery with homicide in Criminal Case Number XX1-1782 (2013) of RTC Branch-21 in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
Operatives recovered three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunitions from the suspects.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
