A SQUAD leader of the New People's Army (NPA) was captured and six firearms and war materiel were confiscated from his possession on May 5 in Davao Oriental, a ranking official said Saturday. Capt. Mark Anthony Tito of the Public Affairs Office of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) identified the apprehended insurgent as Cayetano Santos Jr., alias 'Juning.' He is the squad leader under the Regional Operations Command and Regional Headquarters (ROC/RHQ) of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). He was captured in Barangay Simulao, Boston, Davao Oriental through the joint intelligence operations composed of troops from the 10th Infantry 'Agila' Division and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Recovered from his possession were a carbine rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, a USAS-12 shotgun, an RPG-2 grenade launcher, a KG-9 submachine gun, an M-16 rifle and an anti-personnel mine (APM). The army said Juning lay low for a while because of his knee condition, which made him unable to walk long distances. Thus, he left the armed group in Barangay Badiangon, Arakan, North Cotabato in 2018 but did not surrender to the government forces. Tito stressed that the said special intelligence operation was the result of the combined efforts of the 67th Infantry Battalion, 104th Military Intelligence Company, Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office, and the 115th Special Action Company of the PNP's Special Action Force under the supervision of the 701st Infantry Brigade. The 10th Infantry 'Agila' Division commander, Maj. Nolasco Mempin, commended the troops for the successful conduct of the joint intelligence operation.
