From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 25): Palace dares the arrested rebels: Prove firearms & explosives were planted
Malacanang on Tuesday dared Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) head Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma to prove that the firearms and explosives seized from them at the time of their arrest were planted.
The arresting authorities reported that they confiscated four firearms and two hand grenades from the Tiamzon couple during their arrest last Saturday together with five other CPP-NPA members inCebu .
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a Palace media briefing that planting of evidence is against the law.
“Hindi iyan patakaran ng pamahalaan at kailangan nila iyang patunayan sa pamamagitan ng kongkretong ebidensiya kapag nilitis ang kaso,” Coloma said.
Meanwhile, the Tiamzon couple’s lawyer, Rachelle Pastores, said that the couple had only three puppies and four cats and not weapons.
While the couple claimed that their arrest was a violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) rejected it.
OPAPP said that the rendering of the JASIG is inoperative for those using aliases -- among them the Tiamzon couple -- and those who are not directly involved in the peace process.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=629108
Malacanang on Tuesday dared Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) head Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma to prove that the firearms and explosives seized from them at the time of their arrest were planted.
The arresting authorities reported that they confiscated four firearms and two hand grenades from the Tiamzon couple during their arrest last Saturday together with five other CPP-NPA members in
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a Palace media briefing that planting of evidence is against the law.
“Hindi iyan patakaran ng pamahalaan at kailangan nila iyang patunayan sa pamamagitan ng kongkretong ebidensiya kapag nilitis ang kaso,” Coloma said.
Meanwhile, the Tiamzon couple’s lawyer, Rachelle Pastores, said that the couple had only three puppies and four cats and not weapons.
While the couple claimed that their arrest was a violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) rejected it.
OPAPP said that the rendering of the JASIG is inoperative for those using aliases -- among them the Tiamzon couple -- and those who are not directly involved in the peace process.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=629108