- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command (Viscom) on Friday, April 21, slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army for spreading “fake news”, in connection with the death of CPP top leaders, couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.
In a statement, Viscom chief, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo dismissed the CPP’s allegation of capture and torture of the Tiamzon couple, as a “pure propaganda”.
“If their confirmation on the death of the Tiamzon couple is true, then justice has been served to the countless lives, who suffered and died because of their deception and terroristic ways,” Arevalo said.
He added that the AFP has long suspected the death of the Tiamzon couple after the encounter between government forces and the communist members on August 22, 2022 in Catbalogan City, Samar.
Rebel spokesperson, Marco Valbuena, in a statement, confirmed that Ka Benito, 71, and Ka Wilma, 70, served as chairman and secretary general, respectively, of the CPP executive committee.
Valbuena claimed that the Tiamzon couple had been captured, tortured, and killed, and their bodies blasted, belying a military report that they were killed in a boat explosion during a gunfight with soldiers at sea eight months ago in Samar.
“The statement is nothing but mere propaganda. This is a blatant attempt of the CPP to once again deceive the Filipino people by spreading lies and fabricating stories,” said Arevalo.
He added that the fake news also aimed to discredit the successful operation of the government against the communist terrorist group./GB
