CAMP CAPINPIN, Rizal - Joint forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police apprehended an NPA finance officer wanted for murder and attempted murder in Baras, Rizal on Thursday, January 5, 2022.
Troops of the 80th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Battalion, Rizal PNP, and Baras PNP conducted a law enforcement operation at Barangay Pinugay that led to the arrest of Antonio Cule alias Dads, a resident of Kasiglahan Village, Brgy San Jose in the municipality of Montalban and the head of the finance staff and EXECOM member of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee's Sub-Regional Military Area 4A. Cule was apprehended under warrants of arrest for murder with Criminal Case No. 2021-222-1 dated October 26, 2021, and attempted murder with Criminal Case Number 2021-221-1 with the same date, issued by Honorable Judge Marylou P. Meneses of the Regional Trial Court branch 65 in Infanta, Quezon.
It can be recalled that on December 17, 2020, Cule was served the two arrest warrants at Sitio Malalim in Brgy San Juan, Baras which led to a shootout between the government forces and the NPAs, resulting in the death of five rebels and the seizure of two M16 rifles, one caliber 45 pistol, one 9mm pistol, a submachine gun, and several subversive documents.
"We are consistently working with our security sector partners in upholding the rule of the law. We are also grateful for the efforts and cooperation of our kababayans that resulted to the apprehension of these wanted NPA rebels. Relative thereto, we are urging those who are still in arms to return to the folds of the law so as not to suffer the same fate as these rebels," 2ID Commander Maj. Gen. Roberto S. Capulong said in a statement.