MANILA – Top Negros Occidental rebel Frank Fernandez, a 71-year-old former priest, was arrested in Laguna province, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde announced yesterday in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Fernandez served as consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) and deputy secretary and spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Negros Island.
Fernandez and two companions were caught in Barangay Calumpang, municipality of Liliw, Laguna around 5:16 a.m. on Sunday.
Fernandez had four standing arrest warrants for murder. The military set a P7.8-million bounty for his arrest.
“The operation that led to their arrest was part of our aggressive campaign against crime, terrorism and wanted persons,” Albayalde told reporters.
The two others arrested were Cleofe Lagtapon, 66, reportedly Fernandez’s partner and NPA-Negros’ regional deputy for communications and education; and Gee-Ann Perez, 20, a suspected NPA regional communications staff in Negros Island.
Albayalde said Fernandez and Lagtapon were most wanted persons in the national level holding key positions in the NPA, NDF and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Kilusang Rehiyon Negros (KRN) Committee.
“Their arrest will greatly affect the leadership aspect of the communist-terrorist group,” he said.
After his arrest, Fernandez was taken to a military hospital in Fort Bonifacio; he complained of chest pains, said Brigadier General Edward Carranza, director of the Police Regional Office 4-A (Calabarzon).
“He is an old man so we understand his situation. But the arrest warrants will be returned to the court that issued them,” said Carranza.
Seized from the suspects were three handguns with ammunition, three hand grenades, various documents, cellular phones, a laptop, and several USBs (Universal Serial Bus).
Albayalde said the arrested persons would also be charged with violation of Commission on Elections’ Resolution 10429 in relation to the Omnibus Election Code (election gun ban); violation of Republic Act 10591 (illegal possession of firearms) and violation of Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives).
All the documents and other items seized from Fernandez would be turned over to the military to check on their intelligence value, said Albayalde.
“We also would like to find out if they have connections with some candidates based on the documents that would be extracted from the laptop and USBs,” Albayalde added.
Fernandez was among the NDF consultants allowed to take part in the peace negotiations between the government and communist leaders in Oslo, Norway in 2016. The talks collapsed. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
