Only over P23,000 recovered from Tiamzons – AFP

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist New People’s Army (NPA) leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were not carrying more than a million in cash when they were arrested, the military said yesterday.

Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the cash recovered from the couple at the time of their arrest was only P23,545.35, apart from personal belongings and laptops.

Zagala added the items were issued a receipt that was acknowledged and signed by two of their five arrested colleagues.

“The accusations of the Tiamzons’ legal counsel and Bayan’s Renato Reyes that the military has taken custody of P1.5 million seized from the couple are completely false. This is a diversionary tactic to escape their accountability for the crimes they have committed against so many civilians,” Zagala said.

Two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention were filed against the Tiamzons before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 18 on Tuesday.

The couple, along with five of their comrades, were arrested by police and military forces on March 22 in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

Aside from kidnapping charges, the Tiamzons are also facing murder and frustrated murder charges for the execution of 15 civilians found in a mass grave in the mountains of Inopacan, Leyte in 2006.

At the time of the execution, Benito Tiamzon was the NPA’s secretary of the Eastern Visayas Regional Committee.

Zagala maintained the capture of the Tiamzons had value higher than money.

He pointed out the proper procedures were followed by government agents in arresting the couple.

“We carefully and faithfully followed the rule of law and the necessary procedures because we want the arrest of these top NPA leaders to be a key milestone in our thrust to neutralize the NPA leadership,” Zagala said.

Maj. Gen. John Bonafos, Cebu-based Central Command commander, said reports of the missing P1.5 million were mere propaganda by leftist groups and the NPA in order to get back at the military for the arrest of their top leaders.

“It is ironic that they are mentioning this huge amount of money at their disposal while their fighters have a meager allowance of P800 to P1,500 per month,” Bonafos said.