Cabuyao city: A joint military-police law enforcement operation led to the arrest of a wanted female New People's Army (NPA) officer and her Filipino-American (Fil-Am) companion in Cabuyao City, Laguna on Thursday. A report from the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) said troops served a warrant of arrest against Binay Serrano, alias Samay, identified as a medical and logistics officer of NPA Platoon GMT and currently facing murder charges before a local court.

According to Philippines News Agency, authorities also apprehended Cristina Pasion, a Fil-Am who was found with Serrano when the warrant was served. The military report indicated that Pasion, who is affiliated with Migrante International, was last reported in the company of fellow Fil-Am Chantal Anicoche and NPA members in Mindoro in December last year.

Investigators recovered a notebook from a separate encounter site containing entries allegedly linked to the group's activities, internal discussions, and the personal accounts of individuals staying with the armed movement, the report added. The same report stated that Pasion remained with the group following clashes in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last March 24 and 29.

Pasion was turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate disposition of immigration violations. Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, 2ID commander, stated that the arrests illustrated how the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has broadened its international networks.

'This development shows how elaborate the CPP-NPA-NDF's international solidarity work has become. Through front organizations, personal networks and deceptive narratives, they attempt to recruit young people beyond the Philippines and draw them into a violent and futile cause,' Zagala said. He added that Pasion's apprehension should serve as a warning to foreign nationals and young advocates who may be targeted by the group's recruitment and propaganda.