Camp Olivas, Pampanga—The police have arrested a former chief of the New People’s Army after an early morning raid at a posh subdivision in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City Tuesday, authorities here said.
Police Brig. General Rhodel Sermonia, Central Luzon Police Director, said Rodolfo Canda Salas, 72, a.k.a. Bilog, did not resist arrest when apprehended by lawmen in his residence along Doña Carmen Street, Mountain View Subdivision, Barangay Balibago in that City.
Sermonia said Salas was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued on August 28, 2019 by Manila Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina for 29 counts of murder offense before the Regional Trial Court of Manila.
“It’s an old case but the court issued a warrant of arrest against the former NPA chief last year,” said Sermonia while presenting the former rebel leader to reporters.
According to people privy to his life but declined to be named, Salas lay low in the underground movement following his arrest way back in the early ’90s. He was appointed as general manager of the Pampanga 2 Electric Cooperative and organized peasants group in Central Luzon.
During the raid, Sermonia said the police found an unlicensed caliber .45 pistol, hundreds of ammunition for different caliber of firearms and two pieces of magazine assembly in the presence of Salas live-in partner Jhoana Panicbatan Lamigo.
Barangay Balibago Chairman Rodelio “Tony” Mamac and some community leaders accompanied the raiding team since the start of search and after the operation was terminated.
Aside from the standing multiple counts of murder cases, Sermonia said Salas will be facing illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Salas was brought to Regional Intelligence Division- Special Concern Unit for further investigation.
