According to a GMA News flash report, Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma were arrested by Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police personnel in Barangay Zaragoza in Aloguinsan, Cebu.
“Wilma Tiamzon is the secretary general of the CPP/NPA while her husband, Benito, is the chairman of the CPP/NPA. They were arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for their crimes against humanity that include murder, multiple murders, and frustrated murder,” General Emmanuel Bautista, chief of staff of the AFP, said.
Benito is included in the “Big Five” fugitive list alongside fellow NPA leader Jorge Madlos. His arrest follows the arrest of Delfin Lee, who was nabbed in connection with a multibillion-peso estafa case.
Last Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III hinted another big-name fugitive would be arrested soon, but did not elaborate.
A Palace official, who refused to be identified, said Benito Tiamzon was the fugitive Aquino was referring to.
The arrest comes as the New People’s Army prepares to mark its 45th anniversary on March 29. — with reports by Rie Takumi and Andrei Medina/VC/JDS, GMA News
