Rebel leader with P8-M bounty nabbed in Iloilo

A top female communist leader, who had a P7.8-million bounty on her head and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle while her comrades were endure hardships and violence in the mountains was arrested in a joint military and police operation in Iloilo City yesterday.

Col. Noel J. Detoyato, chief, public affairs office, Armed Forces of the Philippines, identified the arrested rebel leader as Maria Concepcion Bocala, 64, alias “Concha Araneta” and “Etang,” secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army Panay regional party committee that has jurisdiction over Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.

Detoyato said Bocala was arrested in her residence in Juntado Subdivision, Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City following a tip from some residents by virtue of warrants of arrest for her alleged involvement in several murder cases.

The military noted that while Boncala enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in the city, her comrades continue to endure a life of hardships and violence.
Her husband, Reynaldo Bocala is the NPA’s finance officer.

“Her arrest will pose another blow to the CPP-NPA,” the AFP said in a statement, noting that several leaders of the Maoist group have successively been brought to the courts to answer for their past crimes.

AFP chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri congratulated Col. Eric Uchida of the Army’s 301st Brigade who supervised the arrest for the success of the operation.

The military said Bocala’s arrest was a result of months of intelligence work in line with the AFPs goal of ending insurgency in the country.

Recovered from her possession were a caliber .45 and a caliber .25 pistols, laptops, USB, and subversive documents.

The NPA leader is now under custody of the police.

Director Benjamin Magalong, head of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said Bocala is among the top wanted persons in the country.

Magalong said Bocala was with her nephew and a house-help during her arrest.

He said additional charges will be filed against Bocala over the items seized from her.

The 4,000-strong New People’s Army has been waging more than four decades of armed struggle against the government. Peace talks between the two camps have repeatedly bogged down.

Top NPA leaders have been arrested over the years, including couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, who were reportedly the top NPA leaders in the country.

Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/08/02/rebel-leader-with-p8-m-bounty-nabbed-in-iloilo/