Police in North Cotabato arrested a suspected member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and a drug peddler during separate law enforcement operations in the province.

Colonel Maximo Layugan, North Cotabato police director, said Larry Bala, the sixth most wanted person in Magpet, North Cotabato, was arrested by the local police at 8 a.m. in Barangay Noa of the town.

Layugan said Bala, 45, was arrested following a tipoff from a concerned citizen.

“He has standing warrants for attempted murder, frustrated murder, and theft,” Layugan said.

Meanwhile, the Alamada town police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested Monday morning Arnold Macaya Misamen in drug buy-bust operation.

“Misamen is the most wanted drug personality of Alamada,” Layugan said.

Misamen, 40, yielded a sachet of suspected shabu, shabu paraphernalia, and other pieces of evidence when arrested around 10 a.m. in Barangay Bao, Alamada. (PNA)