AFP denies hand in disappearance of Tiamzon’s gardener
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 in the Visayas denied on Wednesday the accusation of human rights group Karapatan that its forces were responsible for the missing companion of the arrested top communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.
“We cannot confirm nor deny that there really is a Mr Gary Aguilar Santos because he was not with the Tiamzons during the actual arrest and neither was he there at the safe house during the raid. What Karapatan is accusing us is completely false and baseless,” Armed Forces Central Command chief Major General John Bonafos said.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay called on police and military to surface Santos, a stay-in gardener at the house where Tiamzons and other communist rebels were staying before their arrest last month.
Santos was hired by Rex and Lorraine Villaflor, the couple who leased the house to the Tiamzons. Lorraine said she last communicated with Santos at 4p.m. on March 22, or a few hours after the arrest.
“Tiamzon, Austria and the Villaflor couple are deeply concerned with Gary’s fate. Santos might be tortured for tactical interrogation, which the AFP and PNP are notorious for,” said Palabay.
Bonafos emphasized that the military adheres to human rights.
“Kung meron mang mga taong notorious sa torture at pagpatay, ay walang iba kundi ang mga NPA na pinamumunuan ng mga Tiamzons, base doon sa mga patong-patong nilang mga kaso ng murder, multiple murders and frustrated murders,” Central Command spokesperson Navy Lt. Jim Aris Alagao said.
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