Bayugan city: The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 in Caraga Region has successfully apprehended the region's most wanted person, a former member of the communist New People's Army (NPA).

According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-13 identified the detained individual as an alias Owen, aged 38, who previously served as a political instructor of the Section Committee 14 under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the New People's Army. The arrest was executed by the Bayugan City Police in Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday.

Owen faces a series of serious charges including murder, multiple attempted murder, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention. These charges have been filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City. Additionally, Owen is linked to two criminal incidents in Bayugan City: the shooting of an Army corporal and the wounding of four other soldiers in Barangay Pinagalaan on November 18, 2014, as well as the kidnapping of an individual known as alias Mamerto in Barangay Grace Estate on December 17, 2014.

Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano Magistrado IV, the chief of PRO-13, emphasized the commitment of the police force to ensuring that fugitives are brought to justice. "We are firm in our resolve to bring fugitives of the law before the court so they may answer for the crimes they have committed. Justice must prevail," he stated in an official statement on Thursday.