A 54-year-old member of the communist group was arrested in an operation carried out by the authorities in Brgy. Rajah Humabon, Butuan Wednesday afternoon.
According to authorities, the suspect, Lai Consad, is a member of the Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan, an assistant principal of a school in Butuan.
Based on the investigation, the suspect was allegedly involved in the attack and shooting of a Private First Cpl. Junrel Cornelio and CAFGU Active Auxiliary Emiliano Sajol, Jr., both members of the 29th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army while conducting a combat patrol operation in Sitio Manhupaw, Brgy. Poblacion 2, Santiago, Agusan del Norte on November 21, 2020.
This was the basis for the warrant of arrest for attempted homicide against the assistant principal.
According to information provided by PRO-13, Lai is the head of the Regional Urban Committee (RUC), Regional White Area Committee (RWAC), Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), and is on the Caraga PNP’s “CTG Priority Target” list.
The intelligence report also showed that the assistant principal was involved in recruiting youths and students to become members of the New People’s Army.
Also read: SC urged to probe ‘factory of search warrants’ used in Calabarzon ops vs. activists
Assistant principal who was allegedly member of communist group arrested in Butuan
Karapatan said Consad is also the secretary-general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in Caraga.
“Maam Lai Consad, assistant principal of San Vicente National High School in Butuan City and ACT-Caraga Secretary General have been arrested in Butuan City, today, by a team of Regional Intelligence Division 13, Regional Intelligence Unit 13, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), PNP-Butuan and the military,” Karapatan Caraga said.
“She was arrested based on trumped-up case of attempted homicide related to an NPA action in Sitio Manhupaw, Brgy. Poblacion 2, Santiago, Agusan del Norte on November 21, 2020,” the group claimed.
ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro earlier urged the Supreme Court to investigate the “factory of search warrants” that was used during simultaneous police operations on Sunday that lead to arrests and killings of activists in Calabarzon.