Caraga PNP identifies owner of the vehicle used by nabbed top Agusan NPA leader

by Ben Serrano

December 18, 2010

 

            Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad, BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - The Philippine National Police in Caraga region already identifies the owner of the red Isuzu D-MAX bearing plate KEX-6O1 used by arrested top Agusan NPA leader and his civilian contacts at the time of their arrest in a check point in Barangay Fili in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur almost noon Friday.

 

            Senior Supt. Nestor Monton Fajura, Chief of Staff and Operations of the Caraga PNP regional office said police investigators through LTO registration traced the ownership of the vehicle to certain Raquel Signo with residential address of Block 25, Lot 20, Emenville Subdivision, Butuan City.

 

            Fajura said that based on the initial police investigation result said owner is also allegedly one of the owner of Butuan City-based wood sawmill situated at the bank of Agusan River long been asked by environmental groups to be remove due to pollution and too much silting that caused major floods.

 

            Allegations of huge amount of  smuggling of government banned hard wood species are also being sneaked in to said wood processing plants or sawmills allegedly in connivance with some corrupt personnel/officials of concerned government agencies and law enforcers.

 

            Fajura however failed to explain further why the arrested top NPA leader and his men was using the vehicle of Signo at the time of their arrest.

           

            Joint operatives from PNP headed by Bayugan City Police Chief, Police Chief Inspector Warren Dablo, Philippine Army personnel of 4ID, 4O1st Brigade, 4O2nd Brigade and 26IB led by 2LT Jeremy B Esilen under the supervision of LT COL Neil Richard E Patricio andAgusan del Sur Criminal Investigation & Detection Team led by PI Norman D Ala under the supervision of PSUPT Richie Medardo A Posadas arrested almost noon yesterday Pedro Gerana Codaste 6O, married, resident of Brgy Tungao, Butuan City and four of his companions in a checkpoint the law enforcers installed along national highway in Barangay Fili, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. 


            According to Philippine Army 4th ID spokesman MAJOR EUGENIO JULIO C OSIAS IV, commanding officer of the 4th CMO Battalion that based on subsequent investigation, Codaste turned out to be the same person as Alias “Gonyong” the Front Secretary of the communist group North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.


Caraga Police report identified four other companions of Codaste who were also arrested along with him as Norberto Maturan Espina Jr, 57, married, resident of Barangay Tungao, Butuan City, Azarraga Bocala Eleazar, 58, married, resident of Purok 8, Barangay Jose Rizal,  Butuan City, Eddie Pestaño Alegre, 28, married and a resident of Brgy Langihan, Butuan City an Hector Eco Camilotes, 48, married and a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte.


            Police report claimed the arrest of the five suspected NPA members were made by virtue of Warrant of Arrest  issued by Hon Pelagio B Estopia, Presiding Judge RTC 1Oth Judicial Branch 8, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon for MULTIPLE MURDER and DOUBLE FRUSTRATED MURDER docketed under Criminal Case numbers 20162-09 and 20163-09 with bail bond fixed at Php 2OO,OOO.OO each


            Same police and military reports also claimed the suspects did not resist arrest when flagged down and they were immediately appraised of their constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine and were later brought to Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital  for medical check up prior to turn-over to the court that issued the warrant  of arrest. (PNA/Ben Serrano)