Palace: Police must hunt down Tiamzon couple

Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The Philippine National Police (PNP) would hunt down Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon if they refuse to surrender despite a court’s order to arrest them, a Palace official said Wednesday.

“Police must hunt them down. That’s what’s expected of them,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a message to the press.

In a January 11 decision released publicly on Wednesday, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 32 ordered the arrest of the Tiamzons, together with co-accused National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Adelberto Silva, as it granted the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s earlier motion for recommitment and cancellation of bail.

The court said that following President Rodrigo Duterte’s official termination of the peace talks through Proclamation No. 360, there was no more reason for the Tiamzons and Silva to enjoy temporary liberty.

READ: Manila court orders rearrest of Tiamzon couple

Roque said that the court’s order cancelling the Tiamzon’s bail was expected following the termination of the peace talks between the government and the NDF.

The Tiamzons and Silva were released on bail in August 2016 in time with the formal resumption of the peace negotiations. /je

READ: Tiamzon camp to appeal court’s rearrest order