Top communist rebel leaders nabbed in Cebu

From Rappler (Mar 22): Top communist rebel leaders nabbed in Cebu

Two top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) were arrested in Cebu on Saturday, March 22, over standing murder and frustrated murder charges, police and military sources confirmed to Rappler.

Intelligence reports received by Rappler said combined forces of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines nabbed Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma Tiamzon of the CPP-National People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

They were the high-profile fugitives that President Benigno Aquino III earlier said would soon fall into the hands of authorities, a Cebu-based police source said.

The Tiamzon couple were arrested along with 5 others at Barangay Aluginsan, Carcar City, while the group was on board a Starex van and a Toyota Innova.

They were brought to the Armed Forces of the Philippines central command headquarters in Lapu-Lapu for processing and documentation.

Subject of surveillance

As of 2010, Benito Tiamzon was the chairman of the CPP, based on police and military intelligence data. But he was believed to have lost control of the leadership after the 2010 presidential elections over squabbles regarding the movement's involvement in that election, veteran intelligence officers told Rappler.

 The Tiamzon couple are facing charges of frustrated murder and murder before the Regional Trial Court Branch 31 in Laoang, Northern Samar.

A senior government source told Rappler the Tiamzons have been the subject of intense surveillance since the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan), when they were monitored in Leyte.

"They have been in and out of Leyte since December, at the height of relief operations for Yolanda," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

Hardliner position

The CPP has slammed the government for offering a reward for the arrest of communist leaders even as it seeks peace negotiations with the rebel group.

Tiamzon, as senior party leader, was known to have taken a hardline position vis a vis the peace process with the Aquino government.

Last year, Sison had expressed willingness to modify some of the conditions set by the CPP and the NDF, paving the way for some progress in the talks and backchannel negotiations between Sison and Secretary Ronald Llamas, the president's political adviser. (READ: Joma wants peace, the 'ground' doesn't - Padilla)

But in the latter part of 2013, the NDF again reverted to its conditions – such as land reform – leading to the collapse of the process. This was reportedly caused by Tiamzon's insistence on these conditions.

Wilma Tiamzon was also arrested during the Ramos administration but managed to escape from jail.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/53633-communist-tiamzon-couple-nabbed-cebu