No bail for doctor-CPP official involved in kidnapping

MANILA – Authorities will accompany to Butuan City the doctor arrested in San Juan City on Friday for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and identified as a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) official.

However, no details have been released yet on the transfer of Maria Natividad Castro, 53, who was nabbed in Barangay San Perfecto based on a warrant of arrest issued on Jan. 30, 2020 by Fernando Fudalan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

No bail was recommended for Castro (alias Yam/Agi/Kyle/Prim), No. 7 regional level communist terrorist group (CTG) priority target and head of the National Health Bureau of the CPP-New People’s Army (NPA) based in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City, according to the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).

Castro was allegedly involved in the felonious kidnapping of a member of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA), detained the victim in an unidentified location, and threatened him on Dec. 29, 2018, in Barangay Kolambungan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

The CAA supports the regular forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in dealing with security threats.

“The arrest of Castro marks another CTGs’ setback and to their inevitable demise. Their bloody, merciless plans have never succeeded. They have always been a failure and a disgrace to every Caraganon,” PRO-13 Regional Director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., said in a statement released Friday.

The arresting team included members of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-13, Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group, RID National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)c, 401st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, 3rd Special Forces Battalion, 41 Military Intelligence Company, Joint Task Force-NCR, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-NCR, and San Juan City police.

“I congratulate our personnel who have been conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering making it possible to bring the suspect before the court to stand trial in accord with legal proceedings,” said PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, in another statement on Friday.

CTG-linked groups like Kabataan party-list, Karapatan and Kilusang Mayo Uno, in statements released after the incident, claimed Castro is a mere health care worker and human rights advocate serving the public.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.