By Jennifer P. Rendon
An alleged squad leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested in a police operation on Dec. 7 in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
Niel Calupez – who also goes by the aliases Mig, Joan and Ron-Ron – was caught at his live-in partner’s house at Zone 3, Barangay Buyuan, Tigbauan, Iloilo.
Several police units carried out the operation with the PNP Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 6 as lead.
They were joined by operatives from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6, the Iloilo City Police Office-City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU), the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC) and Tigbauan and Miag-ao Municipal Police Stations.
In a press statement, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 said the suspect is listed as the second most wanted person in both Western Visayas and Iloilo province.
Police operatives have also arrested Calupez’s live-in partner, 34-year-old Filomena Asunción Mamon.
Also arrested were the woman’s parents, Fe Esperanza Caridad Mamon, 70, and Manuel Mamon, Jr., 74.
They were collared for allegedly violating Section 12 of Republic Act 11479 (Human Security Act of 2007).
Section 12 is about “Providing Material Support to Terrorists.“
Police operatives were armed with four arrest warrants during the operation.
Calupez is one of three respondents for attempted murder in Criminal Case No. 3668 and double destructive arson docketed under CC No. 3669.
A P120,000 bail was set for the attempted murder charge while no bail was recommended for the arson case.
Calupez was charged along with the slain NPA leader Joeden Ceralvo and another respondent.
Judge Irene Banzuela-Didulo of RTC-6 Branch 67 in Guimbal, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on July 3, 2022
Calupez, Ceralvo and another suspect were also accused of multiple attempted murder charges in CC No. 3670.
Judge Didulo issued the arrest warrant on Jan. 3, 2022 and set the bail at P120,000.
The suspect is also facing a crime for Direct Assault with Attempted Homicide under CC No. 3621.
Judge Susan Medina-Alcantara of the 15th MCTC Guimbal, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on Oct. 21, 2021. Bail was set at P36,000.
In the said case, the suspect was accused along with other two others.
Calupez is also facing a case for Multiple Attempted Murder in CC No. 3330.
Judge Nelita Jesusa Arboleda-Bacaling of MCTC Branch 72, Guimbal, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on July 1, 2019.
For the said case, a P12,000 bail was recommended.
The suspects are now detained for the proper disposition of their case.
