Troops nab alleged NPA leader in hospital

September 23, 2020

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government forces captured a wounded alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist at a hospital in Zamboanga del Sur, the military said Wednesday.

Arrested by a team of the 53rd Infantry Battalion and Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office is Rowel Monasque, who has the aliases of Ka Jotham and Ka Henry, according to the Western Mindanao Command.

Monasque is the leader of the NPA’s Main Regional Guerrilla Unit of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee in the region.

Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said  Monasque was arrested around 6 pm Tuesday at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City.

Nicolas said Monasque led the NPA combatants who fought government forces on Monday in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

“He (Monasque) is undergoing medication for the wounds sustained during the encounter,” Nicolas said.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the  capture of Monasque was a result of  hot pursuit operations they launched following Monday’s encounter.

During that clash, an NPA was killed while troops recovered high-powered firearms, bomb-making components and other personal belongings.

A day before Monasque’s capture, two other NPA combatants, namely Jaymar Balaas Bellano and Gemma Donsalo Ayas, were arrested while fleeing from clash site in Barangay Marangan, Dumingag.

The two NPAs,  residents of Barangay Saad, Dumingag, escaped from the encounter site bringing along with them assorted war materials, supplies, and garments.

Herrera said the arrest of the three NPA combatants is the success of all the unit's stakeholders.

“We thank all our stakeholders, people who played a vital role in our campaign to end local communist armed conflict in our area,” Herrera said. DMS