By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) in Negros Occidental, said on Friday that they are verifying reports about an alleged new leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the Visayas region.
Arevalo said based on the documents and debriefing of rebel surrenderees, a certain “Rogelio Posadas” is being identified as the alleged replacement of CPP-NPA-NDF leader Frank Fernandez.
Posadas was a former secretary of North Negros Front under the command of Fernandez, Arevalo said.
Posadas covers the area of Negros island, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, except for Panay area, Arevalo said.
He reportedly directs these groups at the lower level for their activities, Arevalo said. However, the report is still subject for verification, he added.
Arevalo assured the people of Negros that they continue to address the insurgency problem in the province and the monitoring of the alleged new rebel leader.
On March 24, Fernandez, a consultant of NDF in the Philippines, was arrested at Barangay Calumpang, Liliw, Laguna, along with his wife. He is one of the most wanted persons in Negros facing multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.
The 3rd Infantry Division (ID), earlier said that Fernandez’s arrest in Negros island will diminish the terrorist groups’ armed capability and will to fight. It will also create a drastic demoralization among their members.
