Leftist rebel commander arrested in S. Philippines: military
The military said Sunday it has arrested a top-ranking leftist rebel blamed for several cases of atrocities in the southern Philippines.
Samson Langguban, alias Commander Jag-jag, was apprehended by soldiers from the government army's 39th Infantry Battalion in Astorga village, Sta. Cruz town, in the southern province of Davao del Sur past 2 p.m. Saturday, according to Lieutenant Raul Villegas, civil-military officer of the battalion.
Langguban was nabbed after informant tipped off the military of his presence at a residential area in the village. A revolver was found in his possession and confiscated. Langguban did not resist arrest, Villegas said.
The arrested rebel commander is facing several cases of murder and robbery before a local court, and his unit which is active in the hinterlands of Sta. Cruz and Bansalan towns and Digos City, also in Davao del Sur, has been blamed for attacks against government troops in these areas, according to Villegas.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for more than four decades. The Philippine military estimates that there are over 4,000 NPA guerrilla fighters scattered in more than 60 provinces throughout the country.
Peace talks between the Philippine government and the leftists bogged down after the United States included the NPA and its parent body as foreign terrorist organizations in 2002.
The Philippine government has revived the peace process with the leftist rebels. However, talks have been stalled recently again following demands of the leftist rebels to release most of their detained leaders and consultants.
Editor: Chen Zhi
English.news.cn 2011-10-02 15:14:47 FeedbackPrintRSS
DAVAO CITY, Philippines, Oct. 2 (Xinhua)
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