Panay CPP-NPA top leader, aide die in Iloilo
By Jemin B. Guillermo / Philippine Information Agency
ILOILO CITY – The death of a top Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) leader is a giant leap in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.
Major General Eric C. Vinoya, the Commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said the death of Reynaldo Bocala alias “Bading,” who heads the Regional Finance Bureau, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P), will further crack the CPP NPA in Panay after the continuous dwindling of leaders.
Vinoya said “Bocala’s death only manifested that the long arms of the law will always prevail in bringing to justice those that have violated it.”
Bocala is the husband of Maria Concepcion "Concha" Araneta, who is the Deputy Secretary of CPP NPA's KR-P.
"Bocala is a notorious terrorist, thus, his death is a victory not only for the government's law enforcement operation but also for the people of Panay who suffered much from the cruelty of the communist terrorists,” Vinoya said, in a press release from the 3ID’s Public Affairs Office.
He added “This is also justice for all the victims of their atrocities and criminal activities."
"Together with our counterparts from the PNP, your Army will fight against the insurgents more aggressively until the last terrorist is brought to justice,” he stressed.