A common-law couple who are alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and wanted for various criminal offenses was arrested in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) identified the couple as alias “Ben” and “Raquel,” both alleged members of the NPA’s Weakened Guerilla Front 30.

CIDG said Ben was tagged as the number two most wanted person in Caraga with seven arrest warrants for murder, frustrated murder, multiple attempted murder, and violations of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364) and Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity (RA 9851).

The arrest warrants were issued between 2020 and 2022 by Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur courts.

Meanwhile, Raquel was listed as the number three most wanted person in the region with eight arrest warrants for multiple attempted murder, frustrated murder, slight illegal detention, arson, and violations of RA 10364 and RA 9851 – all issued by various Surigao del Norte courts from 2020 to 2023.

CIDG said the couple and other co-accused NPA members were allegedly involved in multiple killings, atrocities, acts of terrorism, and crimes against humanity in the region.

“It underscores our unyielding stance against terrorism. With their capture, we significantly helped the government win over terrorism, and helped the victims and their families attain the justice they deserved,” CIDG Acting Director, Major General Robert Morico II, said.