MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A New People's Army leader for Southern Tagalog was arrested soon after a cease-fire between the army and the rebel group ended, Philippine officials said.
Officials said members of a joint police-army operation arrested Tirso "Ka Bart" Alcantara as he was leaving his lover's home in Lucena City in Quezon province, The Philippine Star in Manila reported.
Army Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said Apolonio "Ka Polly" Cuarto also was arrested Tuesday.
The arrest came hours after a 19-day holiday truce between the military and the rebel group expired, officials said.
Police and army special forces personnel were serving one of 23 pending arrest warrants for murder against Alcantara at the house of his mistress when they intercepted him and Cuarto trying to evade a dragnet, the Star said.
"He just visited his paramour and he resisted arrest and attempted to draw his pistol that resulted (in) a commotion, forcing one of our troops to fire and hit him at the buttocks," Ortiz said.
He was hospitalized in a military medical facility, police said. Cuarto was detained at the Quezon provincial police station.
Alcantara was commander of the Regional Operational Command of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee. UPI
