Karapatan welcomes the release of thirteen political prisoners. It is optimistic
that recently released consultants of the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines will have a meaningful and substantial participation to the resumption
of the formal NDFP-GRP peacetalks.
Karapatan welcomes the release of thirteen political prisoners. It is optimistic
that recently released consultants of the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines will have a meaningful and substantial participation to the resumption
of the formal NDFP-GRP peacetalks.
Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general confirmed that the following political prisoners were released from August 15 to morning of August 18, 2016:
- Ma. Concepcion Araneta-Bocala
- Tirso Alcantara
- Ariel Arbitrario
- Kennedy Bangibang
- Alex Birondo
- Winona Birondo
- Renante Gamara
- Eddie Genelsa
- Alan Jazmines
- Ernesto Lorenzo
- Alfredo Mapano
- Ruben Saluta
- Jaime Soledad
- Adelberto Silva
All of have immunity guarantees, except two, Alex and Winona Birondo,
who were released on humanitarian grounds.
Out of the 22 detained peace consultants, six are still waiting for
their release. They are Loida Magpatoc, Perforio Tuna, Renato Baleros, Pedro
Codaste, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon. “We are indignant over PNP Custodial Center
Warden Arnel Apud’s callousness in facilitating the relase of NDFP consultants
Bennito and Wilma Tiamzon, despite the issueance of release orders for them in
the four local courts,” Palabay said.
The human rights group also reiterated the release of three convicted
peace consultants Eduardo Sarmiento, Leopoldo Caloza, and Emeterio Antalan
detained at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City. "The three were
illegally arrested and detained since the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
administration and was convicted during the Aquino regime. Their release is
long overdue," Palabay emphasized.
"We also call on the Duterte administration to withdraw all the
trumped up charges against all political prisoners to facilitate the release of
the more than 500 other political prisoners as an affirmation of previously
signed agreements by both parties," Palabay said. She cited two major
agreements by the GRP and the NDFP, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect
for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint
Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
"The formal peace talks should pave the way for discussions between
the two parties on substantive issues such as genuine agrarian reform, national
industrialization, decent jobs and living wages, democratic access of the
people to social services, respect for the right to self determination of
national minorities, national patrimony and an independent and nationalist
foreign policy, among many others in addressing the root causes of war,"
Palabay concluded.