Mole who helped in arrest of Tiamzons to get P11.2-M reward, says AFP source

From InterAksyon (Mar 25): Mole who helped in arrest of Tiamzons to get P11.2-M reward, says AFP source



PNP/PIO photos of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon

After the military was criticized last year by a human rights group for allegedly engaging in an "organized racket" through its rewards system for hooded informants, a source from the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday said the AFP was able to capture Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon through the help of a mole.

The informant, who had allegedly tipped off the military about the Tiamzon couple's whereabouts, also came from the CPP-NPA and would receive a reward of at least P11.2 million,  according to a ranking military official privy to the capture of the Tiamzons but who requested anonymity.

“Taga kanila din, sa loob din ng organization nila [The mole is from their own organization],” the military official said.

“Ang tawag natin diyan, actually, ay action agent…Alpha-Alpha [We call such mole an action agent...an Alpha-Alpha],” the official added.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala of the AFP's Public Information Office confirmed about the existence of an informant that led to the arrest of the Tiamzons and five others in Barangay Zaragoza in Aloguinsan, Cebu on Saturday, March 22.

Zagala also confirmed about the reward money that the mole would receive -- P11. 2 million or P5.6 million each for the capture of Benito, said to be the chairman of the CPP-NPA, and Wilma, the party's suspected secretary-general.

“Hindi ko pa na-update ano but at least 5.6 million…each [I haven't updated it but at least P5.6 million...each [I haven't updated but at least P5.6 million...each]," said Zabala.

“But we have to check with the valuation board…to see the updated amount,” he added.

The military was put in a bad light last year over its rewards system wherein hooded informants received money in front of cameras. Human rights group Karapatan branded it as an “organized racket” of unscrupulous military and police officials.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said an example of such racket was the case involving security guard Rolly Mira Panesa.

[READ RELATED STORY: Man mistaken for CPP officer severely tortured]

The military claimed that Panesa was CPP-NPA member Danilo Benjamin Mendoza.
On August 12, 2013, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista awarded to a tipster P5.6 million for the supposed capture of the said CPP-NPA member.

Several days later, the Court of Appeals Fifth Division ruled that the case of Panesa was a “mistaken identity" as Panesa and Mendoza were not the same person. The court ordered authorities to release Panesa from jail.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/83467/mole-who-helped-in-arrest-of-tiamzons-to-get-p11-2-m-reward-says-afp-source