The Philippine Army on Saturday announced the arrest of another high-ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) identified the captured rebel as Charisse Bernadine Bañez, alias “Nikki,” Secretary of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC). She was apprehended by joint military and police forces on 13 June in the villages of Bunawan Brooke and San Teodoro.

Also arrested were seven other NPA members: Ronnie Igloria (alias Gideon), a vice commanding officer; Louvaine Erika Espina (alias Pam), the unit’s medic; Sinag Lugsi (alias Jomilyn); Larry Montero (alias Laloy); Daryl Man-Inday (alias Tonton); Arjie Guino Dadizon (alias Ronron); and Grace Niknik Man-aning (alias Jelyn).

10ID commander Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala described the arrest as a significant blow to the SMRC’s operational capability in the Davao and Caraga regions.

Hambala noted that in the last two months, two other SMRC leaders had been neutralized: Elbert Echavez (alias Aldrin), leader of the SMRC’s Regional Sentro De Grabidad Jaguar, was killed in an encounter in Boston, Davao Oriental on 27 April; while his deputy, Jeffry Casal (alias Lalai), was killed in Lingig, Surigao del Sur on 10 May.