Tiamzons in Cebu‘only for Yolanda’

CEBU, Philippines - The coordinating lawyer of two high-ranking Communist Party of the Philippines officials, rebel couple Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma, said his clients were in Cebu for “socio-economic consultation” about super typhoon Yolanda.

“They were heading Negros at that time then from there may be to Leyte…they stopped here in Cebu may be because it is the center among other provinces,” said lawyer Ian Vincent Manticajon.

This, as Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 Director Ritchie Posadas maintained there were firearms and explosives seized from the possession of  the Tiamzon couple during their arrest last month.

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon had claimed that the firearms taken from them were “planted” by the arresting teams.

The firearms and explosives, Posadas said, were found in the vehicles used by the couple and their five companions at the time of their arrest.

The seized items, though, are with the CIDG-National Capital Region that led the operation in Cebu in coordination with CIDG-7 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Central Command Commander John Bonafos also said that the Tiamzons’ allegation that the guns were “planted” was just the couple’s defense on charges filed against them.

“Anybody can say anything,” Posadas said.

The couple and their alleged cohorts, Nona Castillo, Jeosi Nepa, Joel Enano, Arlene Panea, and Rex Villaflor are facing criminal charges at the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City.

Through their legal counsels, they sought the dismissal of the cases filed by the AFP and the police, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of explosives and wanted the policemen sited for illegal arrest.

In his affidavit, Villaflor alleged there were no firearms or explosives listed in the inventory of evidence taken from the Hyundai Starex van they rode and from the bags they had with them.

Manticajon also questioned why the Tiamzons’ inquest was in Manila when they were arrested in Cebu.

“The inquest was rushed and improper and during the inquest diha na nigawas ang (was the only time that they talked about seized)about sa firearms,” Manticajon said in a press conference.— /RHM (FREEMAN)