SECURITY forces arrested a female rebel leader holding key positions in the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and her staff in Cavite early yesterday morning.
Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, commander of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division (ID) based in Isabela, said the arrest of the two rebel leaders “will further weaken” the communist movement.
Evangeline Rapanut, alias Chat and Ines; and Randy Belen Tamayo, alias Deng, were arrested by the military and police in Greenwood Heights Subdivision in Barangay Paliparan 1 in Dasmariñas City.
The law enforcement operation was conducted by virtue of an arrest warrant issued against Rapanut for murder and frustrated murder.
Seized from them were an M16 rifle, a pistol, a hand grenade, magazines, assorted ammunition, four detonating cords, a blasting cap, a USB flash drive, several mobile phones and electronic devices.
The military said Rapanut is a member of the CPP Central Committee and also serves as the second deputy secretary for organization and deputy secretary of the National Education Department of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
