PNP, AFP on red alert after couple rebel leaders’ arrest

CEBU, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police went on heightened alert yesterday in anticipation of possible retaliatory acts of rebels following the capture of a couple reported as top Communist Party of the Philippines leaders last Saturday.

CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon and his wife, the party’s secretary general Wilma Tiamzon, were collared in Aloguinsan town by virtue of three warrants for murder and attempted murder.

Five others, believed to be New People’s Army insurgents, were also arrested. The NPA is the armed wing of the CPP, which has engaged government troops in guerilla warfare for the past 45 years.

The capture of the rebel leaders surprised Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who said he did not think there are still insurgents in the province.

“All this time nag-hunahuna gyud ko nga (I was thinking) insurgency-free ang Cebu. It turns out nga kining Tiamzon couple and their group…they were here believing they were safe. Gihimo nilang safe haven ang Cebu. I do not know kung duna ba sila’y supporters diri,” he said.

“I was surprised. All this time I thought wa nay ingon ana sa Cebu. Mga high-ranking pa gyud,” the governor added.

He was glad, though, that the couple was apparently simply hiding in Cebu and was not actively recruiting members of the CPP-NPA.

“According to Col. (Noel) Gillamac, they were here for rest and relaxation not to recruit members,” said Davide, in a press conference at the Capitol yesterday.

Gillamac is the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) director.

Davide requested authorities to remain alert and continue monitoring if the CPP-NPA still has other members in Cebu.

Major General John Bonafos, AFP Central Command (CentCom) commander, said they were on red alert since Saturday because of the militant group’s anniversary on March 29.

Bonafos said they are prepared for any eventuality.

He also said they are checking if someone sheltered the Tiamzon couple in Carcar City, Cebu as well as in other places of the Visayas that they have been to.

 â€œWe have to trace back kung gaano na sila katagal sa (how long they were in the) area; but so far, we haven’t receive reports on recovery efforts (to rescue the prisoners) but if this will happen then we will add up personnel,” Bonafos told a press conference.

He said the couple possibly chose to stay in Cebu because nobody could identify them and that only a few knew who they really were.

“Aside from its economic status, Cebu is the center of the country and it is easier for them to disseminate information to other areas of the country (from here); at isa pa, kampante sila na hindi makikilala dahil nga (they were confident no one could identify them since) insurgency-free ang Cebu,” Bonafos said.

He, however, declined to confirm if the Tiamzon couple was trying to establish a camp to possibly recruit members from Cebu and the neighboring provinces.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, Police Regional Office-7 director, also placed the entire region under heightened alert after the arrest of the couple.

He said the Tiamzon couple was monitored for two months before the arrest warrant for multiple murder and attempted murder was served Saturday.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Cebu Provincial Police Office director, said he already sent directives to all police stations in the province to monitor their respective areas for presence of armed men.

Gillamac admitted that some police stations are soft targets in terms of surprise attacks, which is why his men should not be complacent.

He was referring to past rebel tactics where they pretend to be inspecting members of the AFP or the PNP, causing personnel of a target camp or police station to temporarily lower their guards, enough for the insurgents to overpower them, sometimes even without firing a shot.

The Tiamzons were apprehended in Carcar City while onboard a Starex van and a Toyota vehicle while to leave their rented house.

Yesteday, Bonafos briefed Davide at the Capitol on circumstances surrounding the arrest of the couple.

The CentCom chief told reporters after meeting the governor that they are ready if the rebels would move against government troops.

Buenafos said arrest of the Tiamzons would ensure an insurgent-free province that is a safe haven to visitors.  (FREEMAN)