BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An arrest warrant for a murder case was issued by Bohol Regional Trial Court Judge Jennifer Chavez-Marcos against top leaders of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, Army regional spokesman Maj. Cenon Pancito III said yesterday.
Respondents in the murder case are Alvin Fortaleza, Manuel “Loloy” Tinio, Nelson Lumantas, Efren Madlos, Rogelio Posadas, Abel Abella, Medardo Sayosa, Nona Espinosa, Marilou Villanueva, Romeo Nanta, Cleofe Lagtapon, Emmylou Cañesares, Mary Grace Delicano and Loida Magpatoc, Pancito said, citing a copy of the arrest warrant they had secured from the court.
Lagtapon was apprehended March last year with rebel priest Frank Fernandez, spokesman of the National Democratic Front-Negros, in Laguna
The judge also denied the respondents bail.
Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said in a statement that the recent arrest of high ranking NPA leaders in Negros is a huge blow to the terrorist organization, and commended the 15th Infantry Battalion and the Kabankalan City Police Station for a job well done.
The arrest of Emmylo Canares, George Buga-ay, Relyn Morino and Raffy Patajo, also yielded guns and explosives.
Vinoya said that the intensified law enforcement and combat operations jointly conducted by the AFP and PNP in Western and Central Visayas are essential parts of the government campaign to end violence and terrorism perpetrated by the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region.*
