ILOILO CITY, May 29 (PIA) – The death of a high-ranking Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) member and his aide will gravely affect the operation of the CPP-NPA in Panay, said Western Visayas top police official.
Police Regional Office 6 director Brigadier General Rolando F. Miranda said that the death of the high-ranking CPP-NPA member and his aide, after putting up a gun-fight against police operatives while serving warrants of arrest, will gravely affect the operation of the CPP-NPA in Panay.
“Malaking kawalan sa kilusan ang pagkawala ni Bocala. It will impede their operations because he is the one managing the finances of KR-Panay,” Miranda said in a press release issued by the PRO 6 Regional Public Information Office.
Reynaldo Bocala alias Bading, a communist terrorist group member, was the subject of the arrest warrants served at about 8:20 P.M. of May 28, 2021 at Block 71, Village 3, Providence Subdivision, Brgy. Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo, by the combined elements of the Regional Intelligence Division PRO-6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Regional Field Unit 6, Iloilo Police Provincial Office and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel, the media release said.
Bocala is a wanted person with reward of P4.8 million and has a standing warrant of arrest for the following cases:
1. Robbery in Band with Frustrated Homicide and Damage to Property with the use of Motor Vehicle and Unlicensed Firearms, docketed under Crim. Case No. 2627-Tu, issued by Hon. Susan Medina-Alcantara, Presiding Judge, 15th MCTC, Guimbal, Iloilo dated July 12, 2004 with bail bond fixed at P200,000.00;
2. Robbery with Serious Physical Injuries, docketed under Crim. Case No. 1337, issued by Hon. Teodulo A. Colada, Executive/Presiding Judge, RTC Br 67, Guimbal, Iloilo dated Feb 4, 2005 with bail bond fixed at P180,000.00;
3. Viol of PD 1744 (Destructive Arson) as amended by RA 7659, docketed under CC no. 1373, issued by Hon. Teodulo A. Colada, Executive/Presiding Judge, RTC Br 67, Guimbal, Iloilo dated February 21, 2005 with no bail recommended;
4. Murder docketed under CC no. 1238-H, issued by Hon. Ma. Monina S. Misajon, MCTC Judge, Province of Antique, dated April 16, 1990 with no bail recommended.
According to the reports from the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 6, Bocala was very elusive. Various intelligence units have been monitoring and are after him for more than three years.
As to RID- PRO 6, they have launched five operations in the past but all these failed not until this operation in Pavia, Iloilo where he was monitored to be in the place for almost three days prior the actual serving of the warrant.
According to the accounts of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 6, when they served the warrant of arrest, Bocala’s aide Willy Epago alias “Ramon” ran inside the house, and afterwards, they fired upon the operatives.
One of the operatives was hit but was not gravely injured because he was wearing a bullet proof vest. This prompted the operatives to return fire which resulted in neutralization of Bocala and Epago.
Both subjects were declared dead on the spot by Dra. Mia Mae Apostol, responding doctor from the Rural Health Unit of Pavia, Iloilo.
Immediately, investigation was conducted and the area was turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives of the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 6 for crime scene processing.
Recovered at the crime scene are two caliber .45 pistols, subversive documents, empty shells, identification cards of the subjects and cellular phones.
Bocala was reported to have occupied several positions in the CPP-NPA, the press release noted.
He was the former Deputy Secretary, Southern Front Committee (SFC), Panay Regional Party Committee (PRPC); Former Secretary, SFC, PRPC; former head, Regional Operational Department, PRPC; and was the former secretary of PRPC in 2001.
Currently, he heads the Regional Taxation Implementing Group (RTIG)/Finance Officer of KR-Panay and one of the identification cards recovered revealed that he is a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Bocala is widely known as the husband of Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta, Deputy Secretary of KR- Panay.
As of this reporting, the families of the subjects are processing the release of their bodies after the examination and paraffin test.
The successful operation against wanted high-ranking CPP-NPA members is a collaborative effort of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spearheaded by the PNP and the AFP.
Meanwhile, Miranda appealed to the active CPP-NPA members to surrender to the government.
“Again, I am telling you, wala kayong mapapala diyan sa CPP-NPA. Mas nanaisin pa namin na sumurender na lang kayo at magbagong buhay,” Miranda added. (PIA6/Story and photos from PRO6-RPIO)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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