Tiamzon

MEMORANDUM *

Raul Santos Tiamzon and Myrna De Guzman Tiamzon, 1 natives and citizens of the Phillippines, ask us to grant their petition for review of a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals denying their request for political asylum and withholding of deportation under sections 208(a) and 243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158 (a) and 1253(h) (1994). 2 Mr. Tiamzon contends that the evidence he presented to the Immigration Judge compels the conclusion that he has a well-founded fear of being persecuted on account of his political opinion by the New Peoples Army should he be required to return to the Philippines, and that he has carried his burden of demonstrating that he is a refugee within the meaning of INA § 101(a)(42)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (a)(42)(A). We deny the Tiamzons’ petition.

We review for substantial evidence the BIA’s denial of his claims. See Ghaly v. INS, 58 F.3d 1425, 1431 (9th Cir.1995). We may reverse the BIA only if the evidence in the record compels a contrary result. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481-84 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). An applicant for asylum or withholding of deportation bears the evidentiary…