Communist leaders Tiamzons, Silva ask Manila court to deny gov’t plea for their re-arrest

Communist rebel leaders Benito Tiamzon’s (C) and wife, Wilma (R) raise clenched fists while a policeman (L) looks on as they arrive for their bail hearing at a court in Manila on August 11, 2016.
/ AFP / Ted Aljibe/

(Eagle News) — Communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, and another have asked the Manila Regional Trial court not to cancel their bail despite the government’s termination of peace talks with their group.

In a joint comment filed with Branch 32, the Tiamzons and Adelberto Silva asked that “in the alternative, that the resolution on the motion be deferred so as not to render moot and academic the efforts and overwhelming calls toward the resumption of the peace negotiations.”

They were referring to the motion for recommitment and cancellation of bail filed by the Department of Justice on Dec. 8, days after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 360 that formally terminated peace talks between the government and the communists.

Duterte has also declared the CPP-New People’s Army as terrorist organizations.

The Tiamzons and Silva are facing a murder complaint stemming from the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte.