Military arrests top Leyte NPA leader

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
April 9, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  On Good Friday, the 19th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army arrested in a safehouse in Nulatula, Tacloban City, one Paterno Opo alias Noble/Loloy/Rex/Laloy/Icot, the commanding officer of the Front Operational Command codenamed Mount Amandewin Command, North Leyte Front, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) and currently, the Communist Terrorists’ organizing department secretary.

This was learned from 1Lt Dennis Almorato, military public information officer who said that the arrest is part of the intensified campaign against the communist insurgents in Leyte, the Commando troopers led by LtCol. Lope C. Dagoy, in a classic intelligence fusion operation with the PRO8 Philippine National Police.

Following a series of surveillance operations against the subject communist terrorist (CT) that started from Ormoc City to Tacloban City, the team was able to locate Paterno Opo’s presence at Bgry. Nulatula, this city, who was staying at a rented house that has been ably converted as the safe house used as haven for visiting CT’s coming from the different provinces of the region and for planning purposes before the conduct of their illegal and violent activities in Leyte.

Opo was arrested on the strength of Warrants of Arrest issued by Exec. Judge Ephrem S. Abando of RTC Branch 18, Hilongos, Leyte for the crime of multiple murder and by Judge Apolinario M. Buaya of RTC Branch 35, Ormoc City for Rebellon.

Opo is the second ranking NLF committee member who was neutralized this year by this unit following the neutralization of the Antonio Ramos alias Pingkoy/Mando, former Secretary of NLF last February 25, 2007.

Also arrested were caretaker-couples Freddie and Leonor Bolito, Romnick Gersola, a minor (16 years old), and a certain alias Leny, all members of the Regional White Area Committee (RWAC), EVRPC.

Confiscated from the apprehended CTs were the following: Two (2) Laptop computers; one (1) Motorcycle with temporary plate number; one (1) M653 armalite rifle; three (3) .45 cal. pistol with live ammunitions; one (1) .38 cal. revolver with live ammunitions; three (3) fragmentary grenades; three (3) Nokia 3315 cell phones; three (3) M203 grenades; voluminous subversive documents that included Bayan Muna 4th Convention Report re their plans for “Halalan 2007” and personal belongings.

The five (5) were subsequently brought to Tacloban Police Station for the appropriate filing of criminal charges against them and their cohorts including the owner of the safe house they are using for colluding with the Communist Terrorists.