MANILA, Philippines - Authorities arrested two suspected ranking leaders of the communist rebels in separate operations in Bicol and Quezon provinces over the weekend, the Philippine National Police said.
Reports reaching the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City identified the suspects as George Geluz and Silvestre Layones.
At the time of their arrest, Geluz is listed in police and military records as Secretary of the Bicol Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines -New People's Army while Layones is identified as head of UrbanCom of BRPC.
Geluz is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Arniel Dating of the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 of Labo, Camarines Norte for Robbery in Band with Arson and Double Frustrated Murder cases.
He was intercepted by security forces shortly before midnight Saturday at a police-military checkpoint in Gumaca, Quezon, reports said.
Hours later, along the Diversion Road in Naga City, Layones was arrested in another police-military checkpoint.