3 ex-PUP students nabbed in anti-NPA raid

Three former students of a state university in Manila — one of them female and all of them armed — were arrested on Wednesday in Rizal province for allegedly being members of the communist New People’s Army. The three were identified as Marissa Espidido, 21; Jared Valero Morales, 21; and Hermogenes Reyes Jr., 22, all former students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, commander of the Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion, said the three were nabbed near an Army patrol base at Sta Ynez village in Tanay town around 8:45 p.m. based on information provided by civilians. Seized from the three were two M16 armalite rifles, one of them with M203 grenade launcher attached on it; a shotgun with 12 live ammunition; 12 M16 magazines with live ammunition; 12 40mm live ammunition; two grenades; and an improvised explosive device. “They did not resist or put up a fight because of overwhelming number of troops," said Detoyato. “They go near populated centers to evade our operations and recruit, extort or harass troops if there is an opportunity," Detoyato added. “It appears that they are not familiar with the place, hence they got near a patrol base." Detoyato said Espidido had been the subject of a writ of amparo filed by her parents before a court sometime in 2007. The respondents in the complaint for the disappearance of Espidido were leftist organizations Kabataan and Bayan Muna. He said the complaint was dropped when Espidido showed up to her parents. “Her parents filed the writ (of amparo) and took her back but she returned to the NPA," said Detoyato. Espidido was a BS Sociology student while Morales and Reyes took up courses on business administration and cooperatives, according to Detoyato. The three will be turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. — KBK, GMA News