After ‘rebels’ were sued: Tighter court security imposed

CEBU, Philippines - Like in police stations and military camps all over the country, security at Qimonda IT Center was made more stringent following the filing of criminal charges against rebel leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and five others yesterday.

Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines offices are bracing for possible retaliatory actions by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, which celebrates its anniversary today, following the capture of the couple.

Benito is the CPP-NPA chairman while Wilma is the group’s secretary general.

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, head of the Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch, said they have reinforced the existing security detail in Qimonda to prevent possible danger in the area.

Located at the North Reclamation Area, the Qimonda IT Center now houses Cebu City’s courts after the Marcelo V. Fernan Hall of Justice was declared unsafe by the Cebu City government’s Office of the Building Official after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last October 8.

Santander said he has directed Major Melbert Esguerra, Camp Sotero Cabahug commander, to advise all sentinels to stay alert, especially at night, as Qimonda could also become a target by the rebels.

“Lisod na kaayo labi na if naay armas. Gipangan-daman ni nato (We’re not taking chances, especially against those with guns. We have already prepared for this). We have to be cautious enough,” he said.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 who arrested the Tiamzons  said they recovered one .45 pistol with three magazines containing 17 bullets, one 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with seven rounds of ammunitions , and two pieces of grenades inside the Hyundai Starex the Tiamzons rode.

The policemen also found one 9mm  pistol with one magazine loaded with seven rounds of ammunitions and one 357 caliber with six rounds of ammunitions inside the Toyota Innova the rest of the accused rode.

The two vehicles, which were confiscated and placed under CIDG-NCR’s custody, are still in Cebu as they would serve as evidence in the case.

Tiamzon and Wilma Austria were arrested along with Jeosi Nepa from Lapu-Lapu City, Nona Castillo from Consolacion, Arlene Panea from Lapu-Lapu City, Joel Enano of Buhatan, Sorsogon, and Rex Villaflor of Barangay Pitogo, Makati City last Saturday in a checkpoint in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

The Tiamzons’ arrest was made by virtue of warrants of arrest for murder and attempted murder issued by the courts against them.

Yesterday, cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions, illegal possession of explosives, and obstruction of justice were also filed against either the Tiamzons and/or their companions.

It is believed the arrests of Benito and Wilma, and most recently that of Andrea Rosal, daughter of deceased NPA spokesperson Gregorio Rosal, are signs that the government has taken the military solution in talks with the National Democratic Front.

Speaking to reporters, Rey Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center said that following the signing of the Comprehensive Bang-samoro Agreement, the government is now thinking of  pulling out troops in Mindanao and sending them to fight in the NPA-infested areas.

“The government is being bull-headed when it comes to assuming the peace talks (with the NDF),” he said.

The arrests of   Tiamzon couple and Rosal would be a hindrance to peace talks with communist rebels, Casambre said.

The Philippine Ecume-nical Peace Platform also agreed with Casambre’s view.

“We have now been witnessing a flurry of accusations and counter-accusations between the two parties,” PEPP said.

“The NDF argues the arrest was a violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. The members of the government panel, on the other hand, are claiming that the couple is not covered by the agreement. Amidst all of these, the PEPP hopes that this will not lead to the total breakdown of the peace negotiations.”

The PPC said it was becoming evident, through the arrests, that the government “has neither interest nor intent” in resuming negotiations with the NDF.

“Not a few in the AFP are now even talking about totally ‘crushing the communist rebels,’ with no less than the Chief of Staff, openly calling for the mass surrender of the CPP and NPA leaders and members,”  the PPC said.

General Emmanuel Bautista, AFP chief, even believes the NPA, which will mark its 45th anniversary today, would become irrelevant in less than five years.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Bautista said the NPA has degenerated into a gang of bandits who have no ideology.

“After five years, they (NPA) will be irrelevant,” he said. “They won’t even last for five years. Their focus now is extortion.”

However, the CPP said in a statement the NPA is continuously gaining and acquiring 10,000 high-po-wered firearms.— Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento, Philippine STAR News service/RHM