Another New People's Army (NPA) commander fell into the government hands in a village in southern Mindanao region of the Philippines, the military said Monday.
The ranking officer of the NPA, Gerald Bate, was arrested in Cruz town in Davao del Sur province last Friday, bringing the total number of NPA leader to fall into government's hand in this region to five. He was arrested by the joint elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion and the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG) based on information from residents.
Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, welcomed the capture of another NPA leader.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.
Peace talks between the government and the leftists bogged down in 2004 after the United States included the NPA and its parent body as foreign terrorist organizations.
A few years ago, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the military to end the insurgency on or before her term ends on June 30 this year, but AFP chief Delfin Bangit admitted in May that the timeline cannot be met.
Source: Xinhua
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