‘Rebel’ couple, others enter no plea during arraignment

CEBU, Philippines - Two alleged leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and five others, whom authorities arrested March, did not enter any plea during their arraignment for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores said spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Joel Enano, Arlene Panea and Rex Villaflor, all detained in Camp Crame, and Nona “Lorraine” Castillo and Jeosi Nepa, who are out on bail, did not enter any plea, questioning instead the cases filed against them.

Pastores said it was Judge Ruben Altubar of the Regional Trial Court Branch 29 who entered a “not guilty” plea.

Prior to the arraignment, Pastores said the defense asked for the resetting of the arraignment to a later date pending decision of the Court of Appeals but the court denied their request.

The Tiamzons then petitioned for the issuance of certiorari after the arraignment yesterday, questioning the order of the court, the validity of the inquest proceedings, and their warrantless arrest and search.

The couple and their co-accused maintained that the evidences against them were “planted. ”

The defense counsel said what the authorities did to their clients was “overkill.” She said the government spent over P1 million to “fabricate” the  cases and in transporting her clients from Camp Crame to Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base onboard a Fokker Plane and from the Air Base to Toledo City using a helicopter, plus the escorts.

The three choppers the accused rode landed in Barangay Tubod, Toledo City, 700 meters away from the Palace of Justice. From the landing zone, the Tiamzons and Panea then rode an Armored Personnel Carrier while Enano and Villaflor separately took waiting 4x4 military vehicles, arriving at the Toledo City Palace of Justice at exactly 8:15 a.m.

Superintendent Ricky Delilis, Toledo City police chief, said over 100 police officers from different Cebu police stations and over 50 military officers were deployed within the vicinity of the Palace of Justice to secure the safety, and the peace and order.

Those stationed at the gate were in full battle gear.

Delilis said the number of police officers and military men deployed was such because they considered the status of the Tiamzons, who are both high-ranking officials of the CPP-NPA.

He said there were also reports of possible rescue attempt, so they did not take any chances.

Earlier, Altubar denied the petition for judicial determination of probable cause filed by the accused, saying their arrest was valid.

Castillo and Nepa were charged for violating Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), which is a bailable offense, while the rest are facing on-bailable offenses.  (FREEMAN)