Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) recently revealed they are currently awaiting orders to arrest National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant and former top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay Island, Maria Concepcion ‘Concha’ Araneta-Bocala.

According to PRO-6 director, Police Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, while President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered “mass arrest” of NDF consultants, he explained the president’s order was only verbal and law enforcement requires a formal order.

Araneta-Bocala was released from jail last year amid peace talks between the government and communist rebels. Talks, however, have since been suspended by the government, with Duterte declaring the NPA a terror organization.

Shortly after her release, the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City hosted a forum featuring the NDF consultant, who had been detained on illegal weapons possession charges./WDJ