In a 2014 interview with Bulatlat, the Tiamzon spouses detailed their political awakening as student activism flourished at the University of the Philippines at the time of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The Tiamzons were severely tortured with witnesses reporting that they “saw how the faces and bodies of the victims were smashed, apparently beaten with hard objects.”
Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) and lawyer of Wilma Austria said this is “a politically motivated persecution and hardline attack” as it was resurrected out of nowhere after 30 years.
Set to be the final informal round of negotiations to prepare for the resumption of formal talks at the end of the month, the meeting’s schedule may be affected after both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) have yet to file their comments on the petition for six senior NDFP consultants to travel.
“A unilateral declaration by one side without the proper written notice duly received by the other, no matter how categorical yet at the same unjustified, does not make the grade and does not bind the latter.”
“With the NPA restrained from mounting offensives, the AFP and PNP continue to violate the people’s rights with impunity.”
“There is no reason for them (Tiamzons) not to be released.”
Duterte’s recognition and respect for these previously-signed agreements has opened doors for both the resumption of peace talks and the release of political prisoners through peace talks.”
“We see this as a positive step towards ‘straightening’ rights violations committed against political prisoners and the Filipino people.”
“But the main question here is, where did they really find those clothes?”
When Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) arrived at the alleged mass grave site, about six civilians were already digging and skeletal remains and clothes were on the surface.