Rearrest NDF, CPP leaders – DOJ
Justice Secretary Guevarra said yesterday the Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved for the return to jail of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders who were granted temporary liberty for participation in the peace talks.
But since the peace talks
set last month has been cancelled, Guevarra said these NDF consultants and CPP leaders should return to their detention cells in line with the conditions in their temporary release.
Specifically, Guevarra said he has directed prosecutors to file the necessary pleadings before the regional trial courts (RTCs) of the cities of Manila and Taguig.
“I have given instructions to the prosecutors concerned to move for the revocation of the court orders which allowed the NDF consultants and CPP leaders to post/re-post bail and travel to the Netherlands or Norway, in view of the cancellation of the peace talks scheduled last week,” Guevarra said.
Provisional liberty Earlier given provisional liberty for peace talks participation were NDF consultants and CPP leaders Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Alan Jazmines.
Tiamzon, Silva, Baylosis, Echanis and Ladlad were allowed to post bail on their multiple murder cases for them to travel to Netherlands and later to Norway for the peace talks.
It was the Taguig City RTC that granted temporary liberty to Jazmines.
Both trial courts have imposed conditions for their temporary release, specifically their personal appearance before the courts which have jurisdiction over their cases.
Under their temporary liberty granted by the trial courts, NDF consultants were supposed to be free only until the end of the informal talks set from June 3 to 9 and June 22 to 28 in the Netherlands, and the formal negotiations in Oslo, Norway, set for June 27 to 30. Thereafter, they have to return to the Philippines within three days from June 30.
Guevarra said that as soon as the trial courts grant the DOJ’s pleadings, the NDF consultants and CPP leaders have to return to their detention cells or their refusal would pave the way for the issuance of arrest orders against them.
Safety assured
For his part, Department of the Interior and Local Government Officerin-Charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año has assured the safety of communist leaders in the event the peace talks with the CPP pushes through in the country as called by the President.
“To hold the formal negotiations in our country will not kill or paralyze the peace talks but will, in fact, facilitate negotiations that will hopefully end this decades-old armed conflict that has brought so much misery to our country,” Año said.
He asserted that holding the talks in the country is not only logical but also practical because it will spare taxpayers of the prohibitive cost of holding talks in Europe.
“The Filipino taxpayer has been spending millions in logistical costs for the peace talks that could otherwise be saved if the talks are held in the Philippines,” he added.
Postponement backed
The DILG chief has also backed the three-month postponement of formal peace talks “to review the different agreements entered into by previous administrations and enable the government to increase public awareness and support for what has been agreed so far by both panels.”
“Continuing the talks without concrete public support is faulty. The people’s support is required to implement any agreement just like what was done in crafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law that underwent numerous consultations and thus resulted to its progress in the legislature,” he emphasized.
He also challenged the CPP/NDF/ NPA to add confidence-building measures and show sincerity by stopping all attacks on government construction projects as well as the collection of revolutionary taxes from private firms.
“The government is firm in its commitment to build an enabling environment for peace talks which the other side must reciprocate if they also genuinely want a just and lasting peace,” he noted. (With a report from Chito A. Chavez)