Captured Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army (CPP-NPA) Chairman Benito Tiamzon and his wife, party Sec. Gen. Wilma Austria were in Cebu not for rest and recreation, police said. Chief Supt. Constantino, Police Reg. Office 7 Dir. said the 2 were there to sustain the CPP-NPA's war against the government by strengthening the NPA forces in Central Visayas. They have been staying in Cebu to meet with the leaders of the NPA in Bohol, Cebu and Negros Oriental to strengthen the CPP's armed component in the region. The couple were arrested on Mar. 22, 2014 in Brgy. Zaragosa, Aloguinsan Town 60 Kms South West of Cebu City. House Resolution No. 991 of Bayan Muna Rep. Colmenares and Rep. Zarate sought to find out if the incident was another violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed between the government and the National Democratic Front the political wing of the communist movement. Constantino said analyses by the PRO 7's intelligence group suggested the CPP-NPA was aiming at recruiting and reinvigorating it's forces in Negros Oriental and Bohol while establishing the CPP's armed movement's regional HQ in Cebu. With the latest development and the botched plan of the rebels, Constantino said the PRO 7 will also strengthen it's own forces in Negros Oriental, and Bohol and further conduct intelligence gathering to ensure that the CPP-NPA will not be able to get back into the region. Cebu and Bohol have been declared insurgency free since 5 years ago although Negros Oriental province continues to be rebel infested. Constantino said the Tiamzons became complacent with their movements while they were in the province and thought Cebu was a safe place for them since there have been no major police and military operations against insurgents in the province for half a decade already.
