AFP denies Tiamzon couple carried only 'cats, puppies'

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines rejected claims that suspected Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were only bringing pets when they were arrested.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said that unregistered firearms, four laptop, 16 mobile phones and 20 flash drives were recovered during the March 22 arrest in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

Zagala denied lawyer Rachel Pastores' claim that the rebel leaders were only traveling with "three puppies and four cats."

The couple's counsel also claimed that other items and firearms seized were "planted evidence."

"Wala pong katotohanan 'yung mga sinasabi nila, 'yun ay palusot lamang nila. The fact remains na nakitaan po sila nito lahat," Zagala said in an interview with dzMM on Tuesday.

"Kung merong aso't pusa man, nakadokumento sana 'yan kasi nakadokumento lahat ng nakuha sa kanila," he added.

The Tiamzons face 15 counts of murder as well as recently filed charges for illegal possession of firearms.

The couple and their lawyer walked out of the inquest proceedings on Monday at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

They insisted that the case should be heard before the Leyte court instead of the Manila Regional Trial Court.

"Hindi kami magpa-participate sapagkat highly irregular 'yun, walang jurisdiction 'yung mga state prosecutor na mag-inquest sa Manila," Pastores said.

Zagala said that the Manila transfer was due to security and the suspects' high profile nature.

He also addressed criticisms that military and police forces arrested the CPP chairman and his wife in their house when authorities did not possess a search warrant.

He said that the couple were on board a vehicle when they were nabbed by authorities.