Alleged leftist rebel tagged in deadly attack vs. Misamis official arrested

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - An alleged leftist rebel tagged as among the group that attacked a convoy of a local official in the southern Philippines last May has been arrested, authorities today said.

Joel Yagao was apprehended by police and army Sunday noon at Poblacion Village, Villanueva Town, in Mindanao's Misamis Oriental Province, according to Captain Christian Uy, acting spokesperson of the army's 4th Infantry Division.

Captain Uy said Yagao was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a local court in connection with the ambush on the convoy of Ruth Guingona, wife of former Philippine vice president Teofisto Guingona and mayor of the southern Philippine city of Gingoog.

The attack that killed two of Guingona's police escorts happened during the run-up to last May's Philippine mid-term elections. The leftist New People's Army has owned up the attack and apologized.