By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) yesterday said they have filed five criminal cases against a captured New People’s Army (NPA) leader and two others.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Lt. Abegael Donasco, said cases of violating Republic Act (RA) 9516 for illegal possession of explosives and RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearms were filed against Nilda Bertulano, Ronel Bordago and Joebel Mabayag.

Donasco said the three were captured during last Tuesday’s gun battle at Sitio Balik-balik in Ilog town’s Barangay Tabu.

Following the clash, authorities recovered several firearms and explosives at the encounter site.

The clash also resulted in the death of four NPA insurgents, while 13 others were initially held for questioning although they were later released after it was proven that they had no involvement in the clash.

Previously, the Ilog Municipal Police Station reported that Bertulano have several pending arrest warrants for multiple counts of frustrated murder and murder.

One of the killed insurgents, Christian Vargas, is also wanted for multiple counts of murder./DGB, WDJ