A former commander of a guerilla front of the New People’s Army (NPA) accused of murder was arrested in Baganga, Davao Oriental on Monday, January 26, 2026, after 31 years in hiding.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao City Field Unit and other law enforcement agencies arrested the 64-year-old suspect by virtue of a warrant for two counts of murder issued by a court in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro in 1995.

CIDG said the suspect was a former commanding officer of the Special Operating Group of the dismantled Guerilla Front 15, Sub-Regional Committee 2, Southern Mindanao Regional Command.

The suspect was tagged as among the most wanted persons in the country.

Meanwhile, personnel of the CIDG Butuan City Field Unit also arrested four former rebels allegedly responsible in the ambush of government troops in Barangay San Antonio, R.T.R., Agusan del Norte in 2019.

The suspects were identified as alias “Ejoy,” “Baloy,” “Pedro,” and “Maya,” all farmers and former members of the Squad 1, Platoon 1, of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad, WESTLAND.

They were tagged as most wanted persons in Surigao del Norte.

CIDG said the arrested suspects and five other co-accused were armed with high-powered guns when they allegedly ambushed government troops conducting combat patrol in R.T.R., Agusan del Norte in 2019, which resulted in the wounding of several soldiers.

Authorities added that the manhunt operation for the remaining five fugitives continues, as of this writing.