Philippine military arrests alleged ranking communist rebel leader

MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippine army has arrested an alleged ranking communist rebel leader, officials said Saturday, as guerrillas protested her apprehension as a violation of an immunity guarantee she enjoys as consultant in rebel peace talks with government.

Elizabeth Principe, a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines' policy-making central committee, was arrested Wednesday by army intelligence and police operatives in suburban Quezon city, army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said. Torres said Principe, wife of another communist leader, is also secretary of the Communist Party regional committee in northern Cagayan Valley.

The communist umbrella National Democratic Front said Principe, 56, enjoys protection from arrest because she is an NDF consultant in stalled peace talks with the government.

NDF chief peace negotiator Luis Jalandoni, in a statement issued before the army announcement, said Principe was "abducted" by suspected government security men and demanded her immediate release.