A military doctor assesses health condition of alleged CPP leader Percival Manimog after his arrest on September 6, 2010. Photo by Philippine Army

MANILA, Philippines - Soldiers on Monday nabbed a leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Compostela Valley province, the main Philippine Army (PA) unit in Southern Mindanao said Tuesday.

PA’s 10th Infantry Division said that Percival Manimog was nabbed by members of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion at his house in Sitio Ricop, Barangay Jaquimitan in Moncayo town.

Manimog is allegedly the deputy secretary of Guerrilla Front 51 of the CPP’s Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee. He was arrested by joint elements of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion at his house in Sitio Ricop, Barangay Jaquimitan in Moncayo town. He is allegedly known as “Bing Bong” in the armed communist movement.

The Army unit said that Manimog was arrested after information was received from civilians about the presence of armed men in the area. When Manimog was nabbed, he “neither resisted the arrest nor attempted to escape,” said the Army unit.

Manimog was arrested for the murder in March 2004 of Maximo Rabina, chief of Barangay Rodero in Makilala town in North Cotabato province.

According to the Army unit, Manimog had admitted that his unit was responsible for the murder of the village chief. He said his unit killed Rabina on orders of regional CPP officials, the Army unit said.

He reportedly said that the killing was done by a Reynaldo Ediza, also known as Benjie Pahak, who was killed by government forces 7 months after the murder.

Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr, Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade deputy commander, lauded the arrest of Manimog.

“After more than six years of waiting, justice will now be rendered for the death of Barangay Chairman Maximo Rabina. May this serve as a warning to all members of the NPA that murder is a criminal offense and heavy penalty awaits NPA members, who by direct participation or association with the NPA, are implicated in the crime like Percival Manimog,” said Tutaan.

The arrested murder suspect will be handed over to the custody of the Davao del Sur police who in turn will turn over the suspect to the court.

The Army unit, meanwhile, said that it will coordinate with local government unit officials and non-government organizations for the giving of appropriate support to Manimog’s wife and 2 young daughters.