Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.

CAMP MELCHOR DE LA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela: A high-ranking leader of the New People's Army who is facing various criminal charges in Cagayan Province was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other composite law enforcement members at Greenwood Heights Subdivision, Barangay Paliparan 1, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, on Tuesday, May 31, the military said.

Capt. Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Battalion spokesman, said that suspected rebel leader Evangeline Rapanut, alias Ka Chat/Ines, used to be the secretary of the New People's Army's (NPA) Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley. She is also a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-Central Committee and the Second Deputy Secretary for Organization and Deputy Secretary of the National Education Department (NED) of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Rapanut has been in the underground movement since the 1970s until she became a full-time NPA member in the mid-70s, Pamittan added.

She is facing various cases in Cagayan Province, including two counts of murder charges, frustrated murder, robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Also arrested with Rapanut was Randy Tamayo, alias Ka Deng, communication staff of the NED of the NDF.

Authorities seized from them a Bushmaster assault rifle, an M-16 magazine with 18 rounds of bullets, a 9mm pistol, a 9mm magazine with six rounds of bullets, a hand grenade, four detonating cords, a blasting cap, a USB flash drive, assorted mobile phones and electronic devices.

Pamittan said Rapanut was allegedly responsible for mass orientations to instill radicalism among the youth, students, and vulnerable sectors such as Indigenous Peoples, trade unions, urban poor, and farmers purposely "to recruit additional political and military cadres in support of the recovery of Komiteng Probinsya Batangas under Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee, and expansion into parts of Cavite and Central Quezon as the center of manufacturing and industrial establishments in Southern Tagalog."

5th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina lauded the arrest of Rapanut and Tamayo.

"The apprehension of (Rapanut and Tamayo) will lead to the exposure of the (rebels') nationwide extortion operations, infiltration into the different sectors of society, the conduct of terroristic activities, and their international and local political works, particularly their use of front organizations," Mina said.