The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Thursday confirmed that two of its top leaders died at the hands of the government forces in Samar in August last year.
In a statement, CPP Information Officer Marco Valbuena said they condemn the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for torturing CPP Executive Committee Benito Tiamzon, CPP Secretary General Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, and eight other members after they were captured while traveling to Catbalogan City, Samar at around 12 noon on August 21, 2022.
"According to the information gathered by the Central Committee, Tiamzons suffered a severe beating in the hands of their captors. Internal reports cited witnesses who saw how the faces and bodies of the victims were smashed, apparently beaten with hard objects," he said.
READ: Humihingi ng hustisya ang CPP sa pagkamatay ng kanilang lider na sina Benito at Wilma Tiamzon kasama ang 8 iba pa noong Aug. 2022.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) April 20, 2023
Idinidiin sa umano’y krimen si Pang. @bongbongmarcos at mga dating opisyal ng AFP. | via @liezel_once #SamaSamaTayoPilipino
📸 @cpp_mv pic.twitter.com/XU4p0gjjfy
Valbuena also belied the AFP's report that the Tiamzons were killed in a boat explosion in Catbalogan, Samar.
"The claimed mid-sea firefight and explosion were all a drama hatched by the AFP and its US military advisers, to hide all evidence of the ignominy of their fascist crime", he said.
The CPP Information officer said the Communist party calls for justice for the Tiamzons and eight other victims, and that it holds President and AFP commander-in-chief Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and several former AFP officials accountable.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the CPP said it will offer a 21-gun salute for the two slain leaders on April 24, the same day it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
"[A]ll units of the New People's Army (NPA) are directed to stand in formation and silently perform a 21-gun salute, by way of respect and giving the highest tribute to Comrade Benito Tiamzon (Ka Laan), Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee, and Comrade Wilma-Tiamzon (Ka Bagong-tao), General Secretary of the Party," it said.
Inilabas ng CPP ang pahayag bago ang ika-50 anibersayo ng NDFP sa April 24.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) April 20, 2023
Kaugnay nito, hinikayat din ng CPP ang lahat ng NPA units na magsagawa ng 21-gun salute para sa mag-asawang Tiamzon sa nabanggit na araw. | via @liezel_once
📸 @cpp_mv pic.twitter.com/4yeSfYOteh
As of this writing, the AFP has yet to issue a comment on the accusation.
