Monday, Nov. 30, 1987
World Notes THE PHILLIPINES
Acting on a tip, the Philippine military sent 100 troops, a tank and an armored personnel carrier to mount a daybreak raid on a small house in Santa Rita, a village north of Manila. The target was Juanito Rivera, 54, allegedly the second ranking leader of the New People's Army. Rivera, fighting pneumonia, had been visiting his mother. Peering out the window, he surveyed the firepower and surrendered.
The capture is a victory in President Corazon Aquino's drive against the Communist-led guerrillas. Rivera is one of the N.P.A.'s experts in political assassination and a veteran of its 19-year war. In another small success for Aquino, Lieut. Colonel Roberto Navida, 38, surrendered to the government. Navida had helped Colonel Gregorio ("Gringo") Honasan mount the failed August coup against Aquino and then had gone into hiding with him.