Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the arrest of two elusive top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Cebu last week.

Marañon, who was recently conferred the Bayanihan Award by the AFP for his all-out support to the peace efforts of the 303 rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental, said that Benito Tiamzon, who is alleged to be the CPP chairman, and his wife, Wilma, CPP secretary-general, have been in the list of fugitives of the government.

The military in Negros is bracing for retaliatory offensives, following the arrest of the Tiamzon couple, and the 45 th founding anniversary of the New People's Army on March 29.

Marañon said the insurgency has been ongoing for 45 years, and added, “Let us put an end to this. Our enemy is not each other, it is poverty. Let's help each other in solving poverty.”

The NPA traditionally launches tactical offensives against government forces weeks before its anniversary, military records show.

The two informants, who provided the tip on the presence of the Tiamzon couple in Cebu, are expected to receive P11.2 million as reward, the military said.*GPB

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