BY CALVIN D. CORDOVA
CEBU CITY — A high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with law enforcers who were serving arrest warrants against him in Barangay Pong-ol Sibugay shortly before midnight last Sunday.
Denis Paradero Rodinas fired shots when police and members of the Philippine Army’s Task Force, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (TF-CBS) arrived in his house located in a mountainous area here.
Rodinas was armed with a .45-caliber pistol during the shootout, police said.
Rodinas’ live-in partner Gerlie Mercado, who is also wanted for murder, was arrested.
Two other civilians were also arrested and are facing charges for obstruction of justice after they allegedly intervened in the serving of the arrest warrants.
Police Brig- Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas, said the couple was involved in several atrocities in southern Mindanao and may have come to Cebu to hide.
The couple lived in a two-story house that is still under construction.
“Some barangays officials complained because the house was built on a government-owned lot and they didn’t have permits,” said Ferro.
Ferro said Rodinas had standing arrest warrants for at least four murder and illegal possession of explosive charges.
Law enforcers were able to track down the couple with the help of the community.
Ferro said investigation was ongoing to find out how the couple was able to enter Cebu and if they still have cohorts hiding in the province.
Borja said Rodinas was one of the most wanted NPA terrorists in Mindanao and masterminded the brutal killing of Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur and his son Daryl in Butuan City in October 2015. (Calvin D. Cordova)
