[Inquirer] The New People's Army released from captivity on December 25 a member of a breakaway communist faction who had been held since December 10. Freed was Cerilo Bagnoran, a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), who had been captured by the militants in La Castellana town during a raid on a farm owned by another RPA-ABB member identified as Rene Uropa. Uropa, who had also been a target for capture by the NPA, was able to escape.
RPA-ABB is composed of former NPA militants who broke off from the guerrilla movement over differences in strategies and ideology. RPA-ABB has since entered into a peace agreement with the Philippine government.
Bagnoran's comes after Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon and Bagnoran's family appealed to the NPA to free Bagnoran for Christmas. The plea was heeded as the militants freed him on Christmas Day.
In a statement, the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command-Bagong Hukbong Bayan said Bagnoran was captured for trial by a revolutionary court for alleged involvement in the murder of two people whose families had sought NPA help. The statement said he was freed after being found not guilty. The statement was signed by rebel leaders Heneroso Siliang and Nadren Alberastin, presumably noms de guerre.
Communist militants on Panay Island earlier said they would step up attacks against Philippine troops and vowed to help frustrate efforts to consolidate votes on the island for Liberal Party standard-bearer, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.