No rebel actions during 45th anniv

CEBU, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines has not monitored any Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army  movement during its 45th anniversary yesterday.

“Wala pa man kaayo kalihukan sa atoang  aor (area of responsibility),” said Central  Command (Centcom) Spokesperson Jim  Alagao, in a text message.

Major General John Bonafos, Centcom commander, has placed the command on red alert for possible rebel attacks due the CPP-NPA’s anniversary.

The move was even made more imperative with the arrest of spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon , high-ranking CPP-NPA leaders, Saturday last week.

The Tiamzons, along with five others, were arrested by the AFP Intelligence Service, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, and Carcar City policemen in Aloguinsan town.

Chief Supterintendent Danilo S. Constantino, Police Regional Office-7 director, likewise placed the entire Central Visayas under full alert status for the same reason.

But no incidents of clashes and encounters were reported so far as of yesterday afternoon.

A statement published in the CPP website urged NPA members to render a 21-gun salute to the “heroes of the revolution” at high noon on the day of their anniversary, which was yesterday.

The CPP urged its red fighters, its term for the NPA members, to “intensify the offensives, to seize further initiative in advancing the people’s war.”

But Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, AFP spokesperson, told national media yesterday that the rebel group is no longer following the CPP ideology.

The NPAs, he said, has become a mere criminal group  extorting money from businessmen and politicians.

According to the AFP, from almost 25,000 fighters at the height of the Martial Law, the CPP-NPA forces have steadily declined over the years to just 4,000 fighters now.

Major  General Domingo Tutaan of the AFP, though, was quoted as saying the NPA is the “most potent internal security challenge” that the country is facing.

That is why the AFP considered the arrest of Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma a big blow to the insurgency movement, as Benito was the CPP chairman while Wilma is the organization’s secretary general.

Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III, CIDG-7 deputy chief, said that last March 22, they were alerted that two high-profile targets were riding a gray 2008 Hyundai Starex van ((MDN-171) with a security escort of one black 2009 Toyota Innova wagon (YGY-897).

The vehicles managed to pass through a police checkpoint in Barangay Valencia, Carcar City, Cebu before being chased and flagged down in Barangay Zaragoza, Aloguinsan.

The Tiamzons, who were seated at the second row of the Hyundai Starex, were accompanied by Arlene Panea from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Joel Enano of Buhatan, Sorsogon, and Rex Villaflor of Barangay Pitogo, Makati City.  Jeosi Nepa from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and Nona Castillo from Consolacion, Cebu were in the Toyota Innova.

Armendarez said that while CIDG-7 operatives carried out the arrest of the rebel couple, the Toyota Innova, which was behind the Starex, tried to maneuver away but was blocked in time by the responding team.  (FREEMAN)