MANILA, Philippines - Communist power couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon have spent P2,000 a month for the food of each of their pets, four times as much the monthly combat pay of soldiers, the military said Thursday.
Lt. Jim Aris Alagao, spokesman of the Armed Forces Central Command, said since the Tiamzons have seven pets, they have spent about P14,000 a month for cat and dog food alone.
Three of the seven pets – two dogs and a cat – were with the couple when they were arrested in Cebu last Saturday. Alagao said two dogs and two cats are still at the house owned by a certain Juanito Sabellano.
“Also present in the van and in the safe house (of the Tiamzons) were dog and cat food with a brand of "Royal Canine." They are believed to be worth P2,000 per pack, which can be consumed in one month by only one pet,†Alagao said.
“That would mean, they spend roughly P14,000 for the seven pets on "pet food" alone. A soldier's combat pay is just P500,†he added.
Alagao claimed things could be worse for Tiamzons’ comrades who are waging the armed struggle in the mountains.
“Come to think of it, the NPA's (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,†he said.
Alagao could not say how the Tiamzons managed to set aside such amount for pet food.
The Tiamzon couple and five other communist rebels were nabbed by security forces last Saturday in Barangay Zaragosa, Aloguinsan, Cebu.
Benito is the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) while his wife Wilma is the group’s secretary-general. The Tiamzon couple is facing 15 counts of murder.
Pets named after communist leaders
At present, soldiers of the Cebu-based Central Command are taking care of the three pets that were recovered from the Tiamzons’ vehicle.
Soldiers in the Central Command have named the pets “Ben,†“Wilma†and “Joma,†which are obvious references 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 that we provide to our K9 dogs,†Alagao said in Filipino.
The military vowed to take care of the pets and to uphold their animal rights.
“Some people have called me and have pledged to provide us with dog food,†Alagao said.
Alagao said the pets would be temporarily turned over today (March 28) to the Island Rescue Organization, an animal welfare advocacy organization.