BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A suspected member of the New People’s Army facing murder charges was arrested on September 25 by army soldiers and police troopers in Brgy. Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Nabbed was Robert Estorco, alias Janggo, a member of the Regional Striking Force of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, operating in central Negros.
Lt. Col. Melvin Flores, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said that Estorco was denied bail by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court Judge Arville Delgado, for murder charges.
Flores said that the arrest of Estorco, through intensified intelligence operations, of the 62IB, 704th Regional Mobile Force Company and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, yielded a .45 caliber pistol with three magazines containing 21 ammunition, and 1.3 grams of suspected dried marijuana leaves.
Estorco was also tagged as the primary suspect in the killing of CAFGU member Joseph Gabia in January 2019, and Gretchel Navarra Perolino in May 14 this year, all in Brgy. Linantuyan, Guihulngan City.
Flores thanked residents in the barangay for the timely information that led to the apprehension of Estorco, who is facing additional charges for illegal possession of firearms, and violation of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, for possession of illegal drugs.
The apprehension of Estorco for possession of firearms and illegal drugs is a clear manifestation that the KR-NCBS leadership in Negros is already weakened, because they can no longer control their personnel, even in the use of illegal drugs, he stressed.
This has resulted in heinous crimes, human rights, and international humanitarian law violations committed by the NPA, Flores said.*
