• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine government is offering a total of P8.9 million in rewards for any information that may led to the arrest of remaining top leaders of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Panay (KR-P) and Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, 3rd Infantry Division Civil Military Operations officer, said that fugitive NPA leaders from Negros with bounties for their arrest include Arlo Vargas of the KR- NBCS Regional Striking Force, and Magno Flores, 1st deputy secretary of Central Negros 2.
Vargas, who has pending arrest for robbery in band, and Flores, who is facing murder charges in court, have a bounty of P550,000 each, according to Javines.
Several other top leaders of KR-NCBS, including Rogelio Posadas and Romeo Nanta, have been killed in gunbattles with Army soldiers in central Negros, according to the Philippine Army.
Javines disclosed that Ma. Concepcion Bocala, alias Concha, 1st Deputy Secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay, being the highest ranking leader with an arrest warrant for rebellion, has a bounty of P5.3 million; followed by Roberto Cabales, alias Ted/Lloyd/William, KR- Panay Central Front Committee secretary, with a reward of P3.1 million; Roberto Gomia, 1st secretary of KR-Panay Southern Front, with a bounty of P1.05 million; Severino Geonago, political guide and team leader of SYP Platoon of KR – Panay; and Nahum Camariosa, commanding officer of KR Panay Southern Front SYP Platoon.
Military records also indicated the Cabales has pending arrest warrants for robbery in band, frustrated murder and damage to property; Gomia for destructive arson; Geonago for robbery with serious physical injuries; while Camariosa is facing charges for multiple murder and frustrated murder, robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property, as well as robbery with serious physical injuries.
The 3ID leadership urges the public to report any information leading to the arrest of these individuals to the nearest PNP/Military Stations or contact Division Public Affairs (DPAO) at 3ID Hotline – 0927623 9321 or message the Division’s Facebook Page – Philippine Army Spearhead Troopers.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said the cooperation of every resident of Western Visayas is vital to their anti-insurgency effort, especially in locating and neutralizing the fugitive NPA leaders, whom he said orchestrated various terroristic activities in the region, as indicated by their criminal charges.
“Let us work together to end the menace these personalities pose,” Sison said.*