NPA leader nabbed

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
Security forces in Davao City nabbed a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leader on Sunday.
The suspect was identified as Arnulfo Laborada Mantes alias Mike, 45, is the Secretary of Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC5) and the concurrent head of the Regional Political Military Academy (RPMA) of the SMRC.
In report from 10th Infantry Division (ID), Mantes was arrested by the joint elements of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), 10th Infantry Division, Police Regional Office (PRO) XI, CIDG and Davao City Police Office at Brgy 76-A, Davao City on Sunday, May 8, 2016.
The arrest was made by virtue of warrants of arrest issued in issued by Regional Trial Courts (RTC) Branch 10 in Malaybalay City and Branch 23 in Kidapawan City for for murder and 568-2007 for robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons
Mantes is known to have led and planned numerous NPA atrocities such as the burning of heavy equipment, murder of Army personnel and ambush of Peace and Development Teams in several areas of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte.
The report said the suspect is also involved in extorting monies from wealthy individuals, companies and even politicians.
10th ID commander Major Gen. Rafael Valencia lauded the AFP and the police for working together in the successful arrest of Mantes.
“As we have said before, the long arm of the law will ultimately catch up and bring before the bar of justice all those who have brought so much miseries to the Filipino people through their so called armed struggle,” Valencia said.
Valencia said Mantes has joined the long list of top CPP-NPA-NDF (SMRC and FSMR) leaders neutralized – either arrested or killed in Davao and SOCSKSARGEN Regions, and he will not be the last.