Two more suspected leaders of the New People's Army were arrested Friday with three others at a checkpoint, jointly manned by the local police, 6 th Regional Public Safety Battalion and the 62 nd Infantry Battalion in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The two arrested rebel leaders were identified as Hernando Llorente, alias Ka Ador, and his wife, Faith Roseen Basergo, alias Bea, said to be the platoon leader of the Sentro De Grabidad platoon of the Northern Negros Front and former NNF secretary, respectively, military records show.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said Llorente and his wife have pending arrest warrants for robbery-in-band, in connection with the NPA raid on the fishpond of Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, a nephew of Governor Joseph Maranon Jr., in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, last year, whose raiders took several high-powered firearms and an ICOM radio base.

Cadiz Regional Trial Court Judge Renato Munez, who issued the arrest warrant, has recommended P40,000 bail for robbery-in-band charges, with the respondents including Christian Tuayon, secretary general Bayan-Negros, and Ronald Ian Evidente, spokesperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Initial investigations by the San Carlos police showed that Llorente and his wife had claimed to be on their way to Cebu, with three others on board a passenger tricycle, when they were intercepted at a checkpoint in Brgy. Punao, San Carlos City at about 8 p.m. of April 20.

Supt. Harold Tuzon, San Carlos police chief, yesterday said that Llorente and his wife, who were brought to the police station headquarters for investigation, tried to conceal their true identities, by giving their names as Glenn Sotor Handaya and Riza Bianca Carubio, respectively.

Tuzon, however said their identities were established after they were positively identified by a rebel returnee, who used to be their colleague.

Assorted foodstuff good for about 25 persons, P14,000 in cash, a map sketch, two cellular phones and documents with high intelligence value were recovered from the couple.

Tuzon expressed doubts that Llorente was only giving an alibi of going to Cebu, considering the foodstuff they were transporting.

The driver and two others who were also riding in the tricycle, however, were freed Friday by the military and police because of insufficient grounds for detention.

Lactao, however, said the arrest warrant for robbery-in-band was served to the Llorente couple, who are now detained at the San Carlos police jail.

The arrest of the Llorente couple came almost two months after Romeo Nanta, alleged regional commander of the NPA in Negros island, was freed from jail, when he posted P114,500 bail for robbery-in-band and arson charges.

Major General Jose Mabanta, 3 rd Infantry Division commander, yesterday said he expects that the Llorente couple will post bail anytime, with the help of their colleagues in the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA.

Mabanta said the expected temporaryliberty of the couplewill give them the opportunity to commit from the atrocities against the people. The public should be aware of the repercussions”, he said, apparently referring to their expected release.

In previous years, s everal top NPA leaders arrested in Negros Occidental among them couple Danilo and Marilyn Badayos, secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas; Mary Grace Delicano, secretary of the South West Front Committee; Rogelio Danoso, secretary of the Northern Negros Front Committee; Nilda Natan Bertulano, secretary of the Central Negros Front Committee, Arturo Molera, secretary of the Kilusang Larangan South West, rejoined their comrades in the mountains, after their release from jail, military records also show.

Mabanta said Nanta was also monitored to have rejoined the rebel movement, after his release from jail, two months ago.

Major Enrico Gil Ileto, 3ID spokesman, said Llorente was also involved in the attack on a military outpost in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso, Negros Occidental on August 28, 2010.*GPB

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