Benito and Wilma Tiamzon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/PNP PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Flanked by over a hundred policemen and 50 military officers, communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and five others refused to enter a plea during their arraignment for illegal possession of firearms at the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City.
Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores said her clients were protesting the filing of “fabricated” charges against them.
“They consider this a fabricated case that does not deserve the dignity of them entering a plea,” the lawyer told reporters after the proceedings.
In accordance with court rules, Judge Ruben Altubar of RTC branch 29 entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the seven accused, and set the pre-trial conference on March 2, 2015.
Nonbailable
The Tiamzon couple along with Joel Enano, Arlene Panea and Rex Villaflor were charged with illegal possession of firearms, explosives and incendiary devices, a non-bailable offense.
Fragmentation grenades and pistols with several rounds of ammunition were purportedly recovered from the group after their arrest in a joint police and military checkpoint in Aloguinsan town, southwest Cebu, on March 22, 2014.
Two others—Nona Castillo and Jeosi Nepa—were similarly charged when two pistols with several rounds of ammo were allegedly found in their possession. They were earlier released after posting bail.
Pastores and lawyer Ian Sapayan said they were asking the Court of Appeals to review the lower court’s decision denying their plea to have the charges dismissed.
The Makati-based lawyer also described Tuesday’s security arrangement as “overkill.”
“The (military) used three helicopters, an armored personnel carrier, several police and an army (to transport the group to court). They spent (some) P2 million to pin down my clients. And yes, they are spending our taxes for this,” she said.
A motley group of protesters stood outside the Hall of Justice, carrying posters that read: “Buhi-an si Benito, Wilma, og 5 ka kauban (Release Benito, Wilma, and the five others).”