By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) member was arrested while allegedly attempting to extort money from locals over the weekend at Sitio Gusnit in Barangay Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental.

Authorities identified the suspect as 23-year-old Reymark Pedro, a native of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, who reportedly also goes by the aliases ‘Ka Bobby,’ ‘Ka Recoy,’ and ‘Ka Reymark Labrador.’

Philippine Army 15th Infantry Battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Patricio Tomales, said they were conducting hot pursuit operations in the area after receiving numerous complaints surrounding NPA rebels reportedly extorting money under the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

The soldiers immediately identified Pedro’s group, which consists of four unidentified men and two unidentified women.

When the soldiers confronted the suspects, the group fled in different directions, however, Pedro was eventually cornered.

A search of the suspect yielded P3,050 in cash suspected to be extortion money, 37 9mm bullets, six 5.56 caliber bullets for an M16 assault rifle, NPA extortion letters, and other subversive documents.

Tomales noted, the documents recovered all carry the NPA logo with the heading “Armado Sumayang Command of the Southwest Front,” one of the rebel units believed to be operating in southern Negros.

He also confirmed Pedro may have been an officer with the rebel group, citing documents stating his completion of the rebel movement’s intermediate party course and being awarded “Best Officer” by the NPA Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes, thanked the community for their courage to speak up against the rebel’s activities, which he stated earns over P25 million a year.

He pointed out it is more proof the public has become fed up with the rebels.

Pedro is presently detained at the Ilog Municipal Police Station./DGB, WDJ