Butuan city: Indigenous People (IP) leaders in the Caraga Region view the recent death of communist New People's Army (NPA) commander Roel Tremidal Neniel as justice for the many IPs executed under his command. Neniel, commanding officer of the NPA's North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), was killed Monday in an encounter with troops from the Philippine Army's 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde) in the hinterlands of Barangay Pianing here.
According to Philippines News Agency, Datu Rico Maca, the IP Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, expressed that Neniel had been a source of terror in remote IP villages across Surigao del Sur and parts of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte for years. Maca recounted a personal tragedy involving Neniel's group, which abducted his cousin, Ariel Boy Maca, along with five other IPs in 2020. The victims' bodies were later discovered on the outskirts of Sitio Gacub in Carmen, Surigao del Sur. Maca asserted that former rebels confirmed Neniel's direct involvement in the abductions and killings.
An IP youth leader from Agusan del Norte, who requested anonymity for security reasons, shared the widespread fear Neniel's group instilled in IP communities, especially in isolated areas. The youth leader described a personal encounter with Neniel's group during his college years, when they were suspected of being a government agent. This incident caused significant distress, leading to a prolonged absence from the community.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the 901Bde highlighted that Neniel was wanted for numerous crimes, including murders of civilians and IPs, arson, and kidnappings across Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. The brigade detailed Neniel's group's involvement in acts of arson targeting government and private properties in several towns within these provinces.
Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, commanding officer of the 901Bde, emphasized that neutralizing Neniel represents a crucial advancement toward achieving justice for victims and their families. He reiterated the brigade's commitment to pursuing remaining NPA terrorists to protect communities and ensure peace in the region.
