ARRESTED. Wilma
Tiamzon leaves the PNP Multipurpose
Center
Handcuffed but defiant, alleged Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) top leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon left the inquest proceedings for their arrest at the Camp Crame Multipurpose Hall in
While being led
out by police back into a coaster that would take them to the Philippine
National Police (PNP) Custodial Center also in Camp Crame, Benito Tiamzon
exclaimed: "Tuloy ang laban!" (The fight continues!)
Speaking to
reporters, the Tiamzons' legal counsel Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest
Law Center
Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group National Capital Region Chief Senior
Superintendent Roberto Fajardo told reporters that the inquest continued
despite the absence of the Tiamzons, 5 others, and their legal team.
The group was arrested on Saturday, March 22,
in Cebu. They were served arrest warrants for crimes against humanity,
including murder, multiple murder, and frustrated murder charges. (READ: Benito
Tiamzon: Writer, organizer, party man)
The Tiamzons'
legal team said they were surprised by today's inquest proceedings. They now
face additional charges of illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession
of explosives, and harboring criminals.
The Tiamzons,
through their legal team, questioned the validity of holding the inquest
proceedings in Camp Crame when the alleged crimes occurred in Cebu . Pastores said she has yet to see the Tiamzons'
arrest warrants for crimes against humanity.
"Ang
tingin ko to justify yung kanilang continued detention, lalong lalo na doon sa
5 to justify their illegal detention here, nagfifile ngayon ng illegal
possession of firearms na clearly highly irregular," said Pastores. (To justify the continued
detention [of the Tiamzons and of 5 others], they are now filing illegal
possession of firearms which is clearly irregular.)
'IRREGULAR.' Wilma and Benito Tiamzon leave the PNP
Pastores said the inquest proceedings should have been conducted in Cebu immediately after their arrest.
But Fajardo said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is allowed to hold inquest proceedings at any venue – in this case, Camp Crame, due to security concerns.
The trial for the charges, however, will be held where the charges will be filed, said Fajardo. He refused to elaborate.
Representing the DOJ's prosecution panel are Assistant State Prosecutor Niven R. Canlapan and Cesar A. Chavez III. Asked about the legality of the inquest continuing despite the absence of the accused and their legal counsels, Fajardo said it would be up to the DOJ to explain.
Kittens and puppies, not firearms?
Pastores said they found it odd that they are now pressing new charges almost 36 hours after their arrest. "Actually, arbitrary detention na nga ang ginawa sa kanila kung ang pagbabatayan ay warrantless arrest," she added. (This is arbitrary detention already if you're talking about a warrantless arrest.)
Law enforcers need to file cases against suspects within 36 hours of a warrantless arrest, she explained.
Pastores said the charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives were invalid because when the Tiamzons were apprehended, they only had with them puppies and kittens.
"Kung batay sa aming pagsusuri ay planted evidence ito, illegal iyon...magpa-plant ka ng ebidensiya para lang ma-justify yung filing ng case dahil nga noong naaresto sila, wala naman talagang ganoon. Malinaw iyon sa inventory na kanilang pinirmahan," she said.
(If based on our research we find out that this is planted evidence, that's illegal – to plant evidence just to justify filing a case. It was clear when they were arrested, these were no firearms or explosives. It was in the inventory that the arresting officers signed.)
EVIDENCE? In this
handout photo, the PNP present what they allege are the illegal firearms
confiscated during Benito and Wilma Tiamzon's arrest. Photo by PNP PIO
According to the military,
the Tiamzons and 5 others were on board a Starex van and a Toyota Innova during
their arrest. Earlier reports did not indicate the seizure of firearms and
explosives during the arrest in Cebu .
Pastores said
they would question the resolution that will be issued following the inquest.
She said they are prepared to take the case to a higher court to question
inquest and the "presentation of clearly planted evidence," referring
to the alleged seizure of firearms and explosives.
The Tiamzons'
legal team is also considering pressing charges against their arresting
officers. "Maraming possible – criminal, civil or administrative cases
– doon sa mga police officers na nagsasabing sila ay nakakita ng firearms,
ammunitions and explosives," she said.
(There are many
possibilities. We can file criminal, civil or administrative cases against the
police officer who said they saw firearms, ammunition and explosives.)
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