Philippine security forces arrested one of the country’s most senior communist rebel leaders in a suburban Manila district Thursday, weeks after intelligence reports suggested he was hiding on the island of Mindoro.

Wigberto Villarico, secretary of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) and a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was captured in Quezon City’s Fairview district by joint military and police teams.

“We had long suspected Villarico was not staying in Mindoro but was operating at a higher level, directing the whole communist organization,” said Brigadier General Cerilo Balaoro Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Katagalugan.

Villarico, who used at least nine different aliases, faces multiple charges including kidnapping with murder in Quezon province, where an arrest warrant was issued by a regional trial court.

Military officials say his arrest deals a devastating blow to the communist insurgency in the Southern Tagalog region.

The military accused Villarico of orchestrating attacks against government forces, extortion activities, and various human rights violations.

The rebel leader is currently detained at the Southern Police District headquarters, where he faces additional charges of extortion, recruitment of minors, terrorism, and rebellion.

The CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, have been waging one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies, which has claimed thousands of lives since 1969.