No P1.5 million taken from Tiamzon couple: Centcom

Communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon (Inquirer Photo)

BOTH the police and the Central Command described as a “blatant lie” allegations by the Tiamzon couple that they took and kept the P1.5 million recovered from the two vehicles they seized following their arrest last month.

Centcom spokesman Lt. Jim Alagao said the money worth P23,545.35 and other items seized from the two vehicles found in the compound were accounted for and they have receipts as evidence.

The Tiamzon couple, both top officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), were arrested on pending multiple murder charges along with five others.

They said the P1.5 million is intended for typhoon victims in northern Cebu.  “There are no records to show that the couple and the CPP donated aid to the typhoon victims,” Alagao said.

Alagao said the receipts were signed by Nona Castillo and Rex Villaflor, two of five persons captured with Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

Alagao said the receipt for the P13,130.05 recovered from the Toyota Innova vehicle was signed by Castillo while the receipt for the P10,415.30 recovered from the Starex van was signed by Villaflor.

Senior Supt. Ritchie Posadas, chief of the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-7) office, said both Villaflor and Castillo witnessed the inventory of belongings.

“Rex Villaflor was very meticulous when we did the inventory,” he told reporters.

He showed to reporters a copy of the blotter and inventory which bore the signatures of both Castillo and Villaflor.

Posadas also said the 2008 grey Hyundai Starex van and the Toyota Innova are now in their custody after the CIDG central office in Manila turned it over to them yesterday.

The 2008 grey Hyundai Starex van bears plate number MDN-171 while the Toyota Innova bears plate number YGY-897.
Posadas said they identified the owners of the two vehicles.