TACLOBAN CITY — The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency confirmed that high-ranking New People's Army leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were killed in the 22 August clash with the military in Samar.

NICA regional director Eustacio Bacabac revealed that based on intelligence reports and statements from the former comrades of the Tiamzon couple, they were indeed among the passengers of the motorboat that exploded in an encounter with Joint Task Force Storm.

"This is already positive," Bacabac said. "There is already confirmation from the security sector."

He said the confirmation has already been forwarded to the military in an internal communication.

"What we are waiting now is a confirmation from the communist movement," he added.

Bacabac surmised that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front may be reluctant to admit the death of the two leaders because of the impact that the admission will create to the whole movement.

He added that the death of the Tiamzon couple and the recent death of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison left a huge vacuum in the CPP leadership. Benito Tiamzon is believed to be the chairman of CPP.

However, the 8th Infantry Division — which led the military operation — said it has not yet received a formal report confirming the death of the Tiamzon couple.

"But since there is already a confirmation from the NICA then we will just subscribe to that result," said Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, assistant commander of the 8th ID.