Benito and Wilma Tiamzon at the Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City during their inquest proceedings. FILE PHOTO/PNP PIO
Militant groups will hold a picket outside Camp Crame to protest the delay in the release of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, alleged top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan members and other peace-advocate groups will join the protest action to call for the immediate release of the Tiamzon couple, who will attend the formal talks at the Oslo, Norway from August 20 to 27.
Bayan said the picket will proceed until the two are released.
On Thursday night, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. denounced the PNP’s continuing detention of the communist leaders despite court orders for their release.
Reyes said a police officer blamed a courier service for the delay in receiving the hard copy of the court order for their release.
“Kasalanan ng LBC (It’s LBC’s fault),” that’s the explanation we got on why (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) peace consultants Benito and Wilma Tiamzon have not been released up to now. Why? The PNP Custodial Center wants a hard copy of the court order for the release,” Reyes said.
“This, despite having been emailed by the court a copy of the order. This, despite already receiving verbal confirmation from the court administrator,” he said.
“This, despite the apparent delay that the continued detention is causing the two NDFP peace consultants who are supposed to fly to Norway ASAP to join the formal peace talks on August 22,” he added.
Reyes said peace consultant Adelberto Silva, who was similarly charged with the Tiamzons, has been released even without the hard copy of the court order.
READ: Cebu court allows Tiamzons to post bail
As of Thursday night, the court order is still with LBC in Catarman in Northern Samar according to the package’s tracking number.
Because of the delay, the Tiamzons were also not able to join other NDFP peace consultants in the reception and press conference on Thursday in Quezon City.
“We call on the GPH panel to ensure the immediate release of the Tiamzons. The PNP should stop the unnecessary bureaucratic requirements for the release,” Reyes said.
The Tiamzon couple has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center since they were arrested in Cebu in April 2014. CDG/rga
READ: ‘Historic’ release of NDFP peace consultants hailed