AFP: Tiamzons' case won't be another 'Morong 43'

MANILA, Philippines - Not this time.

The military is confident that the case against communist leaders, husband and wife  Benito and Wilma Tiamzon will not end up like that of the “Morong 43's,” which was dropped because purported irregularities on gathering of evidence.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said security troops who arrested the Tiamzons and their companions had followed all the procedures required by law.

“We were careful in following the procedures during the arrest that is why were were accompanied by the Philippine National Police. We made sure that nothing can be said about our arrest. We are confident that everything was done with regularity,” Zagala said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday.

“To begin with, the arrest of the ‘Morong 43’ is still in contention. So for this one, we want to assure you that we did the right procedures together with the Philippine National Police,” he added.

Members of the so-called “Morong 43” were arrested on Feb. 6, 2010 in Morong, Rizal for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Security officials alleged that the “Morong 43” members were communist rebels attending a seminar on bomb-making. The suspects, however, claimed that they were rural health workers attending a medical symposium.

Militant groups have accused the military and police of planting evidence and using torture to obtain confessions from the suspects.

Five of the “Morong 43” have admitted that they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and have availed of the government’s amnesty program.

Ten months after the arrest, President Aquino ordered the dropping of charges against the suspects after the Justice department had questioned the way the pieces of evidence were gathered.

AFP ready to face House probe

Zagala insisted that the weapons recovered from the vehicles of the Tiamzons were not planted.

The military is also ready to answer all questions related to the arrest.

“These are law enforcement operations. If there are any questions about it and if we are summoned then we will follow,” Zagala said.

The military official was asked to react to reports that Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares had filed a House Resolution seeking to investigate the arrest and detention of the Tiamzons.

Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, along with five other communist rebels, were arrested by police and military forces in Barangay Zaragosa, in Aloguinsan, Cebu last Saturday. The Tiamzons are facing 15 counts of murder and were apprehended on the virtue of a warrant issued by a regional trial court in Leyte.

Officials said several weapons were recovered from the Tiamzons’ vehicle namely a Colt cal. 45 pistol, a Norinco 9 mm pistol, a Kimber 9 mm pistol, a Smith & Wesson cal .357 revolver, three magazines and 17 rounds of ammunition for cal .45, a magazine and 19 rounds of ammunition for 9 mm pistol, six rounds of ammunition for cal .357 and two hand grenades.

Rachelle Pastores, lawyer for the Tiamzons, said the weapons were planted and that her clients only had cats and puppies when they were apprehended.

Zagala, however, claimed that the Tiamzons were present when authorities were searching their vehicles.

“Let us not look at the firearms. We should look at their crimes against humanity. I think that should be our focus,” he said.

Higher bounty

As this developed, Zagala said the reward for the information that paved way to the capture of the Tiamzons has been upgraded.

He said the bounty for the rebel leaders has been increased to P10-million each from P5.6-million.

The reward was raised owing to the crucial positions being held by the couple in the rebel movement.

The military and the police have been giving rewards to tipsters since 2006.