A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Yunit Militia (YM) wanted for murder for 18 years, and his comrade were arrested by combined military and police forces in the remote village of Santol in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town on Sunday morning, September 10.

The suspects were identified as Judy Blazer, 61 years old, a resident of Sitio Mabunga; and Junjie Camanso, 30 years old, of Sitio Tumalog in Barangay Santol.

“Both are members of the YM operating in the area,” Major Randy Babor, chief of the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station, who led the joint enhanced military and police operation in Sitio Mainit, said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Court records released by the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) on Sunday night showed Blazer has a warrant of arrest for murder without recommended bail issued on February 9, 2005, by then acting Presiding Judge Edgardo Catilo of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55 in Himamaylan City.

Meanwhile, Camanso is wanted for attempted murder under the arrest warrant signed by RTC Branch 55 Presiding Judge Walter Zorilla on September 28, 2019, with a recommended bail of P120,000.

“The 62IB, in partnership with the Philippine National Police, will continue its efforts in intensifying joint enhanced operations against the remaining members of the communist-terrorist group to sustain the peace and development in central Negros,” Major Alenel Valles, acting civil-military operations officer, said in a statement.

A clash between NPA fighters and government forces in Barangay Santol in July last year led to the death of four rebels in Sitio Amilis.

An encounter in Sitio Bugalo in August 2021 resulted in the death of a rebel while a soldier and a civilian sustained injuries. (PNA)