AFP denies taking P1.5M from Tiamzons

Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army chief Benito Tiamzon (left) and his wife, Wilma (right). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The military on Thursday denied the claim of captured communist leaders– Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma, that the government forces took their P1.5M when they were arrested in Cebu last month.

“This move of Bayan is to discredit the accomplishment of AFP Central Command,” Major General John Bonafos, commander of Central Command based in Cebu, said in a statement Thursday.

“What the Tiamzons are saying (that we have the P1.5M in our custody) is completely false,” Bonafos said, saying that the recovered money during the arrest was only worth P23,545.35.

The recovered items and cash in two vehicles (a Toyota Innova and a Hyunda Starex) during the arrest were issued inventory receipts that were signed by Nona Castillo and Rex Villaflor (two of the five persons who were arrested with the Tiamzons).

Militant group Bayan on Wednesday asked the military to return the P1.5 million supposedly intended for victims of typhoon Yolanda which ravaged Visayas region last November.

“Ang P1 M na padala ng South Mindano sa kasamaang palad ay kabilang sa mga nakumpiska nang arestuhin kami ng mga puwersa ng ISU at CIDG.  Hawak ito ngayon ng Central Command ng AFP,” the Tiamzons wrote in a message that was released through Bayan.

(The P1 million that the South Mindanao [unit] sent was unfortunately among the items confiscated when were arrested by the ISU and the CIDG. It is now in the custody of AFP’s Central Command.)

Another P500,000 intended for “operations and medical budget” was also allegedly taken from them.

“The Tiamzons are blaming us for the loss of the money which I think they have spent on their lavish lifestyle. While their comrades are up in the mountains, they are living inside a mansion that is fully air conditioned. This can be verified by the soldiers, policemen and media friends who were there at their not-so-safe house during the raid,” Bonafos said.

Bonafos said it was “ironic” that the Tiamzons were talking of huge amount of money at their disposal while their fighters on the field “have a meager ‘supamil’ (support to families) of P800 to P1,500 per month.

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