A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) insurgent was arrested last Wednesday by elements of the Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Buenavista.
62IB commander, Lt. Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, identified the suspect as Joel ‘Aming’ Casusa, a member of the NPA’s Sentro De Grabidad Platoon based in Central Negros.
The military official said they arrested Casusa when local residents filed complaints surrounding an NPA presence in their community.
Dacoscos said Casusa has a standing arrest warrant for frustrated murder surrounding his involvement in a 2017 gun battle that took place between Casusa’s unit and the 62IB in the city’s Barangay Carabalan.
Aside from Casusa’s arrest, Dacoscos said local residents also complained about extortion activities committed by the rebels and violent abuses against local farmers.
Meanwhile, the 62IB commander lauded residents for providing information on Casusa, who has since been handed over to the Himamaylan City Police Station./DGB, WDJ