Manila, June 8 -- A top leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) was arrested on June 5 in Cagayan de Oro City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said in a belated report Sunday.

In a news release, the agency said the 50-year-old insurgent who is the secretary of the CPP-NPA's Far South Mindanao Region, was captured in Barangay Indahag following verified intelligence reports.

CIDG officer-in-charge Col. Ranie Hachuela said the suspect, listed as the fifth most wanted person in Police Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen) for multiple murder and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act, was found in possession of a .45 pistol, grenade, ammunition, blasting caps and fake identificatio...