A top-ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) in Negros Occidental, a report to PNP Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo A. Espina said yesterday.
Joseph Sibugan alias “Ka Sakay” was captured by members of the Regional Intelligence Unit 6 with the help of the local police inside Hacienda Nena in Barangay 14, Victorias City around 8 p.m., Saturday.
Sibugan was said to be a former secretary of the CPP/NPA’s Northern Negros Front.
PNP-IG director Chief Supt. Fernando H. Mendez Jr. said Sibugan was arrested based on a warrant issued by Judge Catherine Go of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 on March 16, 2008 for his involvement in a string of arson attacks in Negros Island.
In October 2006, Sibugan was believed to be among the nearly 50 heavily-armed NPA rebels who raided the construction site of the international airport and torched over P30 million worth of heavy equipment in Silay, Negros Occidental.
“The suspect is wanted for his role in the burning of the Bacolod-Silay Airport in 2006 while it was still being constructed. He is also known for his involvement in other arson attacks in Negros Island, mostly due to the failure of their targets to heed their demand for revolutionary tax,” said Mendez.
Sibugan is also wanted for his role in an NPA raid at the Maranon-Sarrosa fishpond in Sagay City where rebels stole six 12-gauge shotguns issued to security guards; the burning of a Smart Telecom cell site in Escalante City; and the burning of the pump house of the Victorias Milling Company.
