Peace talks: No final decision on political prisoners’ release

The third round of talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Rome ended yesterday without a final decision on the demand for the release of all political prisoners.

In a joint statement, the government and NDF peace panels instead agreed to work on the issuance of an amnesty proclamation consequent to the progress of the peace negotiations.

The government also committed to facilitate the release of three remaining NDF consultants – Eduardo Sarmiento, Emeterio Antalan and Leopolco Calozan – through presidential clemency.

With the assistance of defense lawyers, the government will expeditiously process the release of all the political prisoners listed by the NDF as consultants in the peace talks.

It will start with the 200 qualified prisoners either through bail, recognizance, pardon or other legal processes in compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and allow them to participate in activities and mechanisms of the peace process.

Malacañang is pushing for the recommendation of government peace panel chairman Silvestre Bello III to remove the Communist Party of the Phil- ippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison from the terror list of the United States.

“The request for the delisting of chairman Jose Maria Sison is aligned with the President’s wish to hold peace talks with the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Abella said the government maintains its position that there is no reason for the US to deny this request since Sison is part of the negotiating panel. Sison is also the chief political consultant of the NDF, umbrella organization of the CPP and the New People’s Army talking peace with the government.

Abella gave assurance the Duterte administration will extend its assistance to make sure that each step will boost government efforts to strike a lasting peace agreement.

“As part of the Duterte administration’s agenda for peace, it will take all necessary steps to ensure that the agreements made will be inclusive, comprehensive and integrated with all stakeholders meaningfully involved in the process of negotiation and implementation,” Abella said.

Sison expressed the NDF’s concerns on the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos, human rights issues and ceasefire violations.

Ceasefire mechanism

The talks in Rome also failed to address the ceasefire mechanism of both sides.

The government and NDF, however, noted their respective indefinite ceasefire declarations are still in effect.

Both panels have agreed to separately discuss the bilateral ceasefire in their next meeting in February.

Bello, concurrent labor secretary, said the meeting for the bilateral ceasefire will be held in Utrecht.

NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said they would study the draft government proposal and will submit their own draft.

“The fact that they agreed to discuss it (bilateral ceasefire) is a positive development of the (peace) process,” Bello said.

Bello expressed confidence that the commitment of the NDF to the peace process will keep in place the separate unilateral ceasefire declaration, which the rebels had earlier hinted they are seriously considering to withdraw. –