CAMP CRAME – – Two ranking CPP-NPA-NDF leaders, both wanted by the Court to stand trial for Kidnapping and Murder, were captured on Saturday afternoon in Quezon Province.
PNP Chief, Police General Debold M Sinas identified the arrested CPP-NPA leaders as Ruel Custodio a.k.a. Baste, and Ruben Istokado a.k.a. Oyo/Miles.
Sinas said the arrest sustains the momentum of continuing active police operations against CPP-NPA-NDF personalities wanted by the law for criminal activities.
Citing reports from CALABARZON PNP Regional Director Police Brig Gen Felipe Natividad, Sinas said the duo were captured in a service of warrant operation launched by operatives of Regional Intelligence Division, Quezon Police Provincial Office, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion with AFP teams from 201st Brigade, 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion and 4th Intelligence and Security Unit at 3:30 PM in Brgy Zone 3 Poblacion, Atimonan, Quezon.
Arresting officers confiscated two grenades, three handguns and assorted ammunition from Custodio and Istokado.
Police records identified Custodio as Finance Officer of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee responsible for the collection of “revolutionary taxes” in the province of Quezon, he is respondent in two separate criminal cases filed in 2019 for Kidnapping and Illegal Possession of Firearms, with warrants issued for his arrest.
Istokado, on the otherhand, is a political instructor responsible for propaganda work for Komiteng Probinsya 1 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee. He is respondent in two separate criminal cases for Double Murder and Multiple Murder filed in September 2014.
Both suspects are now undergoing booking procedure and investigation in Lucena City before they are presented to the Court.