Arestado ang sinasabing isa sa pinakamataas na lider ng New People’s Army o NPA at ang anim pa nitong mga kasamahang miyembro sa ikinasang checkpoint ng PNP at ng militar sa Bgy San Jose, Puerto Princesa City mga bandang alas onse kagabi, Oktubre 4, 2019.
Ayon sa Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, nakilala ang lider na si Domingo Ritas.
Kabilang sa mga nahuli ang dalawa pang mga babae at apat na lalaki na pawang nakasakay sa isang van at patungo umanong southern Palawan.
Samantala, nakumpiska sa mga suspek ang ilang mga bala, pampasabog, laptop computer, mga dokumento at uniporme ng NPA at mga gamit pampasabog.
Sa ngayon ay hawak ng mga otoridad ang mga suspek at inaalam pa ang kanilang tunay na mga pangalan.
Sa pahayag ng WESCOM, pinuri nito ang matagumpay na operasyon sa pagkadakip ng mga rebelde.
”WESCOM would like to commend the troops and Palawan PNP during the conduct of said operation. Their diligence and commitment to duties successfully contributed to our campaign to end local communist armed conflict here in the Province of Palawan and to the country as a whole,” saad ni Vice Admiral Rene V. Medina, AFP, WESCOM Commander.
Dagdag ni Medina sa isang press statement, ““WESCOM will continue to engage and collaborate with other government agencies for the protection of the people and communities against lawless elements, and communist terrorist groups to disable them from pursuing terroristic objectives against soft targets here in Palawan that hinders peace, security, and development of the province. Moreover, we will continue to urge the remaining members of CPP-NPA to choose the path of peace. We call on them to go back to the folds of the law by putting their arms down and surrender. WESCOM with our government agencies are more than willing to assist them to start their lives anew with their families and loved ones.”