P14 K a month for Tiamzon pets

MANILA, Philippines - Communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon spent P2,000 a month for the food of each of their pet dogs and cats, the military reported yesterday, noting the amount was four times more than the monthly combat pay received by soldiers.

Lt. Jim Aris Alagao, spokesman for the Armed Forces Central Command, said since the Tiamzons have seven pets, the couple could have spent about P14,000 a month for cat and dog food alone.

Three of the seven animals – two dogs and a cat – were with the couple when they were arrested in Cebu last Saturday.

To this day, soldiers of the Cebu-based Central Command are taking care of the three pets recovered from the Tiamzons’ vehicle. They named the animals “Ben,” “Wilma” and “Joma,” in reference to the Tiamzons and CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.

“We are giving them (pets) the food found in the vehicle. Once it runs out, we will give them the food we provide to our K9 dogs,” Alagao said in Filipino.

The military vowed to take care of the animals and uphold their animal rights.

“Some people have called and pledged to provide us with dog food,” Alagao said, adding the animals will be turned over today to the Island Rescue Organization, an animal welfare advocacy organization.

Alagao said the two other dogs and two cats were still at the house owned by a certain Juanito Sabellano, which the couple reportedly used as their safehouse.

“Also present in the van and in the safehouse were packs of dog and cat food. They are believed to be worth P2,000 per pack, which can be consumed in a month by only one pet,” Alagao said.

“That would mean they spend roughly P14,000 for the seven pets on food alone. A soldier’s combat pay is just P500,” he added.

He said things could be worse for the Tiamzons’ comrades who are waging the armed struggle in the mountains.

“The NPA (New People’s Army) top leaders spend about P10,000 to P14,000 on pet food alone while their comrades in the mountains are going hungry,” Alagao said.

The military officer could not say how the Tiamzons managed to set aside such amount for pet food.

Members of the security forces arrested the couple and five other communist rebels in Barangay Zaragosa, Aloguinsan town.

Benito is the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) while his wife Wilma is the group’s secretary-general. The couple is facing charges for 15 counts of murder.