MANILA, The Philippines -- One of the country's most wanted criminals, communist rebel leader Filemon Mendrez, was arrested on Tuesday (December 25th), AFP reported.

Major General Jose Mabanta, the army chief of the central Philippines, described the arrest as a "law enforcement" action that had no bearing on ongoing peace negotiations with rebels or a Christmas truce declared last week.

Mendrez, a top New People's Army rebel leader, is being held without bail, though details of the criminal cases against him were not released, according to AFP. A reward of a 5.25m peso ($128,000) had been offered for information leading to his arrest.