CPP-NPA member nabbed in Pangasinan

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan / Philippine News Agency

NABBED. Allan Rey Balanay, a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army, was arrested in Pangasinan Monday night. Considered the eighth most-wanted suspect in the Cagayan Valley region, Balanay has four separate criminal cases for murder, frustrated murder, Illegal possession of explosives, and illegal possession of firearms. (Photo courtesy of PNP PIO)

MANILA – Police arrested a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) wanted for a string of criminal cases, in San Fabian, Pangasinan on Monday night.

Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, citing reports from Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) Director, Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves, identified the arrested suspect as Allan Rey Balanay, 48.

Considered the eighth most-wanted suspect in the region, Balanay was arrested in Barangay San Mabilao, San Fabian at about 10:45 p.m. by police intelligence operatives who came from Cagayan Valley to serve the warrant of arrest against him.

Balanay has four separate criminal cases for murder, frustrated murder, Illegal possession of explosives, and illegal possession of firearms filed before Judge Edmar Castillo, executive judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 11 of Tuao, Cagayan.

Sinas said Balanay was listed in PNP records as an officer of the Henry Abraham Command of the CPP-NPA Northern Front Committee operating in northern Cagayan.

"This is the same CPP-NPA outfit held responsible for the killing of Mayor Carlito Pentecostes during the attack on the town hall of Gonzaga, Cagayan in 2014," he added.

Balanay is wanted for his alleged involvement in the February 2016 ambush-slay of six members of the PNP Regional Public Safety Battalion in Baggao, Cagayan.

He is among the 12 CPP-NPA personalities accused of 11 counts of attempted murder in the landmine ambush of Philippine Marines in Gattaran, Cagayan in March 2019.

In 2010, Balanay and 20 other members of the Henry Abraham Command reportedly attacked the warehouse of Unimaster Conglomeration, Inc. in Gonzaga, Cagayan and burned heavy equipment valued at PHP5 million.

The CPP-NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (With reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)