Philippine authorities arrested chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) and his wife, who is also a rebel leader in Central Philippines on Saturday for pending cases in court.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Emmanuel Bautista said the couple, Benito and Wilma Tiamson, were nabbed by the joint forces of soldiers and policemen around 3:15 p.m. in Aluginsan, a town of Central Philippine province of Cebu based on warrants for murder and frustrated murder.

"They were arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for their crimes against humanity that include murder, multiple murders, and frustrated murder," said Bautista.

The circumstances of the arrest of the couple were not immediately released but there are reports that they were arrested along with five other companions aboard two vehicles.

The government offered in 2012 a 5.6 million pesos (about 124.2 thousand US dollars) reward for information that would lead to the arrest of Benito Tiamson.

Bautista reiterated his appeal to the leftist rebels to "to lay down their arms, abandon the armed struggle and return to the comfort of their families and join us in bringing peace and development to our nation."

Peace talks between the government and the rebel group remain stalled due to refusal of the government to release their consultants who have been arrested for cases in court.

NPA was ordered by CPP on Saturday to intensify its warfare against the Philippine government forces and further increase its membership as the former will celebrate its 45th birthday on March 29.