The long arm of the law finally caught up with elusive Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leader Janeth Cruz Dela Rosa, AKA Aryang, Libay, Ditsy, Laura, Frankie, Trixie, Ali, and Marbel, as she was arrested on Dec 8, 2022, in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, through the joint operation of the Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
This is another big blow to the CTG after the neutralization of Ericson Acosta, a CTG leader during a clash with government forces in Kabankalan City on Nov 30, 2022.
The arrest of Janeth Cruz is also a significant setback to the CTG as she held key positions within the communist organization. She was a Member, Execom of the Central Luzon Regional Committee (CLRC); Secretary of Regional White Area Committee (RWAC), CLRC; and Head of the RUFC, CLRC and also listed as the number one most wanted person in Tarlac.
Aside from that, justice has been served to her victims, particularly to the civilian she killed and the atrocities she committed as a member of the CTG. She is one of the primary suspects in the August 22, 2011 killing of Christopher Bonustro, a charcoal maker in Candelaria, Zambales, and a brave civilian volunteer who alerted government forces to the NPA’s presence in their village, as well as the wounding of two soldiers in a clash with CTG.
Her arrest was served by the simultaneous implementation of warrants of arrest for murder and two counts of attempted murder issued by the Regional Trial Court of Iba, Zambales, where she is currently detained at the CIDG detention cell, where the court recommended no bail for her temporary release.
This successful peace and law enforcement operation is a breakthrough for the government’s anti-insurgency campaign in Northern and Central Luzon with the active participation of the local populace.
“We will be relentless in the execution of our mission, our soldiers are taking the extra mile to ensure the expedition of the decimation of CTGs in our area of operations,” said Lt Gen Ernesto Torres Jr, Commander of the Northern Luzon Command.
This significant milestone is also a call to the remaining CTG members to surrender while they still have time to avoid suffering the same fate as their leaders, or worse.
