The Tiamzon couple being taken to attend inquest. File photograph by Krisken Jones.
The judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81 has dismissed a kidnapping case lodged against detained couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
The dismissal was due to the absence of the complainant-witness, Sergeant John Jacob, during Wednesday's pre-trial hearing, Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of Karapatan, said Thursday.
The hearing was held at the Training Service of the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Headquarters in Camp Crame instead of the usual Quezon City Hall of Justice.
"The court transferred the venue of the trial, purportedly due to 'security reasons', within Camp Crame, meters away from the Custodial Center where the two are detained," Palabay said.
But the Tiamzons have to contend with other charges, such as illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Toledo, Cebu, a multiple-murder case being heard at the Manila Regional Trial Court, and still another kidnapping charge.
The second kidnapping case stemmed from four other complaints, including one from a certain Lt. Abraham Casis who was among those taken "prisoners of war" by the NPA in 1989 in Tiaong, Quezon. They were later released by the rebels.
"We are wondering why this Lt. Casis, after 28 years of not attending any of the court proceedings on this case that led to the dismissal of the case for the other co-accused, attended this hearing for the Tiamzons," Palabay said.
The Tiamzon couple and five other companions have been detained for more than a year.
"Numerous criminal cases have been logged against them because the Aquino regime detests their beliefs and the work that the Tiamzons do for just and lasting peace," Palabay said.
At the end of the hearing, Wilma Austria Tiamzon came out of the courtroom of Camp Crame, angry and in pain for the handcuffs on both wrists. "I have a back problem. I can't hold both my wrists together because it is too painful. My only request is to handcuff me in one wrist," Tiamzon shouted.
"How could her guards be so inconsiderate to a woman with a medical condition? What security risk would they face when they just travel within the premises of the Camp Crame?" Palabay asked.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/108931/court-junks-kidnap-case-vs-cpp-npa-ndf-leaders-benito-and-wilma-tiamzon---karapatan
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