By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A suspected insurgent of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested following a joint law enforcement operation at Barangay Buenavista in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City on Tuesday, February 6.

The Himamaylan police and the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) identified the suspected rebel as 47-year-old Elmer Quillano, also known by his aliases as “Digoy” and “Onie,” a resident of the said village.

Based on information from 94IB, Elmer served as the finance and logistic officer and ordnance of the Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) Platoon of the dismantled Central Negros 2’s Komiteng Rehiyon –  Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.

He is also the brother of SDG platoon leader Elber Quillano, who was killed along with his wife, Jessa, in an encounter with the troops of 94IB in April 2022.

Troops served his arrest warrant issued by Judge Walter Zorilla of Himamaylan City Regional Trial Court Branch 55.

Elmer, charged with seven counts of frustrated murder, is detained at the city police station.

The court recommended bail of P200,000 for each count.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Marion Sison said they are close to their goal of liberating Negros from the influence of the communist insurgents.

Sison said the series of neutralizations of the dismantled NPA fronts’ remnants in Negros, through their law enforcement operations, manifest the strong inter-agency coordination and collaboration between the Army and its counterparts in the Philippine National Police./DGB, WDJ