Military captures 3rd ranking amazon, one NPA member in Leyte

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 26, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte   – The ultimatum to crash out the communist terrorists in Leyte within six months to one year is unfolding into a reality as the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant Lope C. Dagoy scored anew and apprehended the third top ranking amazon of the South Leyte Front and another communist terrorist belonging to the North Leyte Front.

The two apprehended Communist Terrorists were identified as Nilda Montajes y Pilos alias Lorena Opo alias Lara/Lala/Mera/Pamela, forty two (42) years old, married and a third ranking woman-member of South Leyte Front (SLF) as head of education division (ED) operating in Southern Leyte area and Richan Pernis y Dejon alias Richan, twenty five (25) years old, single and a member of SK-3, North Leyte Front.

Nilda Montajes y Pilos or Lorena Opo is known as the party wife of Paterno Opo alias Robert/Noble/Laloy, the commander of Front Operational Command who replaced Nestor Caliwan alias Usman/Lipas after he was killed during an encounter with the commando troopers sometime in January 2006.

The two were apprehended by the elements of the 19th IB and 43rd IB led by First Lieutenant Eddie Abolencia, on October 21, 2006 at about 12:00 o’clock noon at the vicinity of Barangay Calaguesi, Leyte, Leyte.

The two captured terrorist NPAs were taken to the battalion headquarters of 19IB for legal disposition action as appropriate charges are being filled against the two. Recovered from their possession were one (1) Fragmentation Grenade, a (Hand grenade), three (3) pcs. record books containing records of their extortion activities, several subversive documents, and one (1) unit motor cycle “Honda XRM” with plate number IR-1993.

The terrorist NPAs here in Leyte are falling one by one into the hands of the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion. The Communist Terrorists in Leyte is experiencing a drastic reduction in number and in strength especially after the recent neutralization of Bibiano Rentillosa, the Secretary of Northern Leyte Front (NLF) in an encounter at Sitio Taghoy, Bgy Libertad, Kananga, Leyte on September 11, 2006 resulting to his death.