CPP chair, wife captured in Cebu - military (Update)

From InterAksyon (Mar 22): CPP chair, wife captured in Cebu - military (Update)

The couple said to head the Communist Party of the Philippines were captured Saturday afternoon in Carcar, Cebu by the military and police.

A message sent to media by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Benito Tiamzon, said to be the CPP chairman, and his wife Wilma Austria, who the military says is secretary general of the underground organization, were arrested with five others in a Starex van and a Toyota Innova in Barangay Aluginsan, Carcar around 3:15 p.m.

The arrest of the couple was subsequently confirmed by AFP chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista, who called the operation "another victory for the combined efforts between the AFP, PNP and other stakeholders in pursuit of peace and security."

Reacting to the news, the National Democratic Front condemned what it called the "illegal arrest" of the couple, who it said are "consultants who have fulfilled and are fulfilling highly significant tasks in the peace negotiations" between the government and communist rebels, and demanded their immediate release.

The NDF represents the communist movement in the talks, which have been stalled 2011.

Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the NDF peace negotiating panel, said Austria holds "Document of Identification ND978226 under her real name" and a letter of acknowledgement from then government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III "which states: 'The above named person is entitled to the safety and immunity guarantees asprovided under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) for the duration of the peace negotiations. You are hereby required to facilitate the safe conduct and free passage of the above named person'.”

Tiamzon, on the other hand, holds "Document of Identification ND 978227 under the assumed name 'Crising Banaag'. He is likewise holder of a Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III," Jalandoni said.

The arrest of the Tiamzons and their companions involved the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Army, ISAFP, the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Carcar police, the message said.

The Tiamzons were served warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder issued by Regional Trial Court branch 31 in Laoang, Samar.
The two were brought to the military’s Central Command headquarters.

The text of the ISAFP message follows:

Ooa 221515H Mar 2014, combined elements of ISG,PA, ISAFP, CIDG, PNP and Carcar City Police Station arrested Wilma Tiamzon and Benito Tiamzon (her husband), Chairman of the CPP/NPA with 5 others in two vehicles (starex van and innova) at vicinity Brgy Aluginsan, Carcar City, Cebu by virtue of warrant of arrest Criminal Case 4702 for Frustrated Murder and CC Nr 4703 for Murder at RTC Branch 31, Laoang, Northern Samar. Arrested persons will be brought initially to CENTCOM Hqs for processing and documentation. Progress report to follow.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/83246/cpp-chair-wife-captured-in-cebu---military