A MILITARY official announced Wednesday that combined government forces have captured a ranking communist rebel group leader in a combat operation in southern Philippines.

Captured was Dennis Rodinas alias Dondon or Demz, a high-ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).

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First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) information officer, said Rodinas was captured by combined forces of the Army and policemen around 5 a.m. Monday in the village of Villaba, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.

Cacho did not say whether Rodinas was captured in his hideout or during a firefight.

She said the government troops recovered from Ridonas' possession explosive components, a laptop, five units of mobile phones, a palmtop, and subversive documents of high intelligence value.

She said Rodinas was positively identified by witnesses as the one who killed militiaman Ernesto Gumilid last June 15 in the town of Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

Cases of murder and illegal possession of explosives have been filed in court against the rebel leader, said Cacho.