Ranking leftist rebel leader nabbed in Davao

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was arrested by government troops in the southern province of Davao del Norte yesterday afternoon, a military official said today.

Captain Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the suspect as Dominiciano Muya, alias Marco and Atoy, a member of the Executive Committee of the CPP-New People's Army's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Caber said Muya was arrested in Mankilam village, Tagum City in Davao del Norte province. The leftist rebel leader was aboard a motorcycle when he was intercepted by government troops.

Muya has a standing arrest warrants for robbery with double homicide, damage to property, multiple murder and frustrated murder pending before the courts of Bayugan City and Malaybalay City. The Philippine government has offered a reward of P4.8 million ($10,700) for his capture.

Local authorities have arrested several leaders of the CPP over the past months, most notably its Chairman Benito Tiamzon and his wife, CPP Secretary-General Wilma Tiamzon, who were nabbed in the central Philippine province of Cebu last March.