PNP arrests top NPA suspect for Absalon killings

The Philippine National Police (PNP) apprehended a suspect named alias 'Onang' on January 6 in connection with the 2021 killing of Far Eastern University football player Keith Absalon and his cousin Nolven.

Onang, a high-ranking member of the New People's Army (NPA), faces multiple charges including violations of International Humanitarian Law and Other Crimes Against Humanity, two counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder related to the Absalon case.

The suspect was arrested during an operation in San Fernando, Masbate based on arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court 5th Judicial Region.

Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., Executive Director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), praised the police for bringing them closer to justice for Keith, Nolven, and their families.

Keith Absalon's murder shocked the nation, underscoring the ruthless tactics of the NPA. The arrest is seen as a significant breakthrough in the fight against insurgency and criminality.