By Aaron B. Recuenco
Police have arrested an alleged leader of the New People's Army (NPA) in Angeles City in Pampanga.
But the 72-year old Rodolfo Salas, more popularly known before as Commander Bilog, has reportedly quit the Communist rebel movement, and has instead focused on organizing cooperatives in Central Luzon in recent years.
Armed with arrest warrants for 44 counts of murder, among others, local police nabbed Salas in his house in Balibago, Angeles City.
"The peaceful service of warrant of arrest and orderly search was made in the presence of barangay officials and suspect's live in partner," a PNP statement read.
Seized from Salas were a .45 pistol, 174 pieces of different ammunition and two magazines for .45 pistol.
Salas was one of the prominent figures of the NPA, especially at the peak of Communist rebels notoriety in the 1980s.
He was arrested and detained for six years, and was released in 1992.
In a television interview before, Salas said he was already concentrating on helping farmers and other groups to form cooperatives.
Salas is currently under police custody and will be slapped with a charge for illegal possession of firearms.