Top leftist rebel official arrested in C. Philippines

A top leader of the leftist New People's Army (NPA) was arrested by security forces in the central Philippines on Monday afternoon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Tuesday. Citing a report from the Western Visayas regional police office, PNP spokesman Agrimero Cruz named the suspect as Romeo Nanta, alias Juaning, 53. Cruz said Nanta is the head of the NPA's Regional Operational Command in the Negros Island. He said Nanta was arrested by joint personnel of the Army's Intelligence Security Group, 62nd Infantry Battalion, 303rd Brigade and Cadiz City police station around 2 p.m. Monday at Villa Street in Cadiz City in Negros Oriental. Cruz said the arrest of Nanta was affected by virtue of a warrant of arrest for a charge of robbery in band. The NPA has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for more than four decades. The Philippine military estimates more than 4,000 NPA guerrilla fighters are scattered in over 60 provinces throughout the Southeast Asian country.