Informants who assisted the police in the capture of two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leaders in Bago City will receive a P200,000 cash reward from the Philippine Army.

Police identified the two suspected rebel leaders as Aurora ‘Lilay’ Cayon, a supposed NPA finance commission leader; and Louie Antonio Martinez, reportedly a logistics leader for the NPA. Army officials later revealed, the two also held key posts in the revolutionary movement in Eastern Mindanao before they were elevated to national positions.

The Bago City Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) conducted the arrest, previous reports claimed it was the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) and the Philippine Army, based on previous warrants involving charges of murder, attempted murder, and robbery with violence or intimidation of person and arson.

The two also face additional charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, following the recovery of a .45-caliber pistol and a fragmentation grenade during their arrest.

Martinez and Cayon have since been transferred to Camp Crame, where they were presented to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying, believes the two were in the province to visit the leadership of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros.

He said the local organization is weak and the suspects intended to “provide guidance or direction [and] give some tips or share their experience on how they are strong in Mindanao.”/DGB, WDJ