Suspected CPP-NPA leader nabbed in Bacolod

FILE: Authorities identified the suspect as Isidro “Gesnar” Castillo, 66, of Barangay Pahanocoy here.(GOOGLE MAPS)

BACOLOD CITY — A suspected leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was arrested in this city over the weekend.

Authorities identified the suspect as Isidro “Gesnar” Castillo, 66, of Barangay Pahanocoy here.

Castillo, who had a warrant of arrest for murder, was nabbed by joint police and military operatives at the Bacolod public plaza around 11 a.m. on Saturday and was now detained at Police Station 1.

According to the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, Castillo is a former secretary of the NPA’s Larangang Guerilla 2 and currently a member of Regional Urban White Area Committee under the religious sector, and a spokesperson of Negros Farmers Sugarcane Workers in Negros Occidental.

During his arrest, Castillo yielded a cellular phone, documents, and other personal belongings.

Brig. Gen. Eliezer Losañes, the commander of the 303rd IB, said in a statement on Sunday the arrest of Castillo was made possible through continuous monitoring, and information provided by concerned citizens.

“In coordination with the police, there will be more arrests in the province,” he said.

With the proclamation of President Rodrigo Duterte declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army as a terror organization, high ranking leaders would be swiftly arrested, Losañes added. (PNA)