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Authorities catch alleged NPA-Soccsksargen leader Edward Flores at a relocation site for survivors of the 2011 Tropical Storm Sendong devastation in Cagayan de Oro
MANILA, Philippines – Authorities on Thursday, June 5, arrested the alleged head of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Soccsksargen region during an operation in Cagayan de Oro City.
Brigadier General Michael Santos, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, said the suspect, Edward Flores, was arrested during a joint military and police operation at around 3 pm on Thursday at Habitat Phase 2, Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro. The area is a relocation site for survivors of the Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) devastation in 2011.
The military accused Flores, who uses the aliases Cess, Ruby, Rafa and Ramon, of leading NPA rebels in Region XII, which includes the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, along with the city of General Santos. He is allegedly the secretary of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Region Committee, the highest communist rebel position in the area.
Santos said Flores is facing multiple criminal charges, including murder in a court in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; multiple attempted homicide in a court in Surallah, South Cotabato; murder in a court in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, also in a court in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
He said Flores was in possession of a .45 caliber pistol, a fragmentation grenade and a smartphone believed to contain sensitive communication data when he was arrested.
Before the arrest, Santos said, the group of Flores was significantly weakened due to sustained military operations that neutralized the majority of its leaders and members.
Santos said Flores’ arrest was a major blow to the armed communist rebellion in the region where the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade operates. The brigade’s jurisdiction covers the two provinces of Maguindanao, Cotabato province, Sultan Kudarat and parts of Lanao del Sur.
Flores was arrested by joint troops of the 6th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Aside from being the NPA’s head for Soccsksargen, Flores also allegedly served previously as secretary of an NPA regional urban committee secretary, a now-defunct guerrilla front, and as a spokesperson of the NPA in the region.
Major General Donald Gumiran, 6th ID commander, emphasized the continued progress in dismantling NPA operations, not only by neutralizing remnants but also by arresting high-value targets such as Flores.
He said the military would continue its crackdown on the NPA “until they are defeated.” – Rappler.com
