MANILA, July 21 (PNA) — A ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader and his wife were arrested Monday by combined elements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group during operations in Quezon City and Bulacan.
Nabbed was Ernesto Lorenzo, aka Ernie Lorenzo/Adlai/Lugod/Archimedes Bella, 1st Deputy Secretary of Southern Tagalog Region.
Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said Lorenzo was apprehended while at the Gilmore Commercial Plaza, Quezon City at around 12:15 p.m. Monday.
He was arrested by virtue of arrest warrant for criminal case number 2010-450 for destructive arson issued by Judge Dennis R. Pastrana of Branch 66, 4th Judicial Region in Lucena City dated July 21, 2010.
Meanwhile, Joyce Felicia Latayan, his wife, was apprehended by joint units from AFP and PNP in a law enforcement operation at their residence located at Block 6, Lot 10, Silver St., Pecson Ville Subdivision, Barangay Tungkong Mangga in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan at 2:10 p.m. Monday.
The warrant of arrest against her was issued by Judge Rodolfo D. Obnamia Jr. of Branch 64, Regional Trial Court 4 in Mauban Quezon under criminal case 06-2985-M dated Sept. 9, 2008.
Lorenzo was also identified as member of Executive Committee of Southern Tagalog Region and head of its Regional Organization Department.
He was the former secretary of Komprob Quezon and Komprob Laguna.
Both Lorenzo and Latayan are now in the custody of PNP CIDG in Camp Crame, Quezon City. (PNA)