Filipino military and police elements arrested suspected communist rebel leader Filemon Mendrez, also known as “Tatay” and “Edon,” in Negros Oriental. Mendrez was a commander of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Negros and had a P5.25 million ($127,294) bounty on his head. Abu Sayyaf members freed a public school teacher whom they had kidnapped near Jolo more than a month ago.
