Tacloban City (November 2) -- One more member of the CPP-NPA identified as Jongie Openiano alias Ogie fell into the hands of the combined elements of Bravo Company, 52nd Infantry (Cadre) Battalion and the 34th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division led by Corporal Mario C. Tamayo on October 26, 2006, Major Felix Mangyao of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army reported.

The military report stated that Openiano is a member of the Central Front Samar 2 under the leadership of a certain Allie Tafalla alias Macao, operating in Matuguinao and other parts of Western Samar. He was positively identified by Jovic Dela Cruz as the one who shot and killed his brother Julie Dela Cruz in the morning of October 7, 2006. Other members of Dela Cruz' family who were wounded during the incident were Dominador dela Cruz, Jhonny Dela Cruz and Myleen Dela Cruz.

Openiano who was apprehended at around 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon at Barangay Mabuligon, Matuguinao, Samar, was formally turned-over to the Matuguinao PNP for proper disposition.

Records from Matuguinao PNP revealed that prior to his apprehension, Openiano was involved in a series of criminal activities to include collection of revolutionary taxes, extortion, grave threats and the murder of innocent civilians who refused to give financial and logistical support to the underground movement.

These are only some of the notorious activities undertaken by the communist terrorists not only here in Eastern Visayas but also in different far flung areas of the country, the military report continued.

The apprehension of Openiano is another triumph of the military in its massive anti-insurgency campaign in order to attain peace and progress in the island of Samar and in the entire Eastern Visayas Region.