Gov't troops hailed for capture of ranking NPA leader
Philippine News Agency
By Priam Nepomuceno
October 22, 2024, 10:09 am
MANILA -- The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Tuesday lauded government troops for the capture of a ranking Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) leader in northern Luzon.
The Army's 5th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte arrested Simon Fiaryao Naogsan Sr., also known as "Filiw" and "Wayat," on Oct. 21.
NTF-ELCAC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., said Naogsan's arrest was a "major victory" that marks a "decisive blow to the remaining communist terrorist elements" in the region.
"This success highlights the effectiveness of our whole-of-nation approach, which unites the military, police, and community in neutralizing the threat posed by these terrorist groups," Torres said.
Naogsan faces multiple charges of murder and attempted murder filed before the regional trial courts of Ifugao and the Mountain Province.
His arrest follows a series of military operations aimed at dismantling the NPA's leadership in the Ilocos-Cordillera region, further weakening the insurgents' operational capabilities.
"The valuable intelligence provided by residents played a key role in Naogsan's capture. The people of Northern Luzon are rejecting the lies and violence of the communist insurgents, thanks in part to the government's enhanced services in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Conflict-Affected Areas," Torres said. (PNA)
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