Militant groups occupy the entrance of the Quezon City Hall of Justice during the trial of alleged CPP-NPA leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon
CLENCHED FIST. The Tiamzon couple salutes their supporters outside the Quezon City Hall of Justice. All photos by Ben Nabong/Rappler
Militant groups disrupted operations of the Quezon City Hall of Justice on Tuesday, October 21, when they massed in front of the building to demand the release of alleged Communist Party of the Philippines leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and other political prisoners.
The rally caused the delay of other court hearings inside the hall due to the number of militants in front of the building. Lawyers and attendees of other hearings were barred from entering the building to prevent activists from barging into the doors.
SUPPORTERS. The protesters were composed mostly of farmers belonging to the leftist Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
Local police secured the perimeter of the hall of justice to secure the Tiamzons but as the couple waited at the side entrance for the police van that will take them back to Camp Crame, their supporters started to march towards the gate, instigating a brief clash between the police and militants.
The Tiamzons, who are facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of military officers in 1988, held their fists up high and smiled in response to the display of support.
SIDELINED. Lawyers and court employees watch outside as the police and rallyists try to outdo each other.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Peasant Movement of the Philippines) is a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) peasant-based front organization. The group is a founding member of the main CPP umbrella multisectoral front organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance).
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