MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine military says it has arrested a senior communist rebel commander as a 19-day Christmas truce ended this week with both sides vowing to step up fighting.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz says a regional leader of the rebel New People's Army was wounded when he tried to draw his gun as special army troops backed by police arrested him in a village south of the capital.
Ortiz said Tirso Alcantara was transferred to a military hospital Wednesday. He is facing 23 warrants for murder.
Despite the fighting, the rebels and the government earlier agreed to resume stalled peace talks in February on ending the 42-year insurgency.
