GMA orders release of rebel leader, 23 others

President Arroyo ordered yesterday the release of communist rebel leader "Commander Pitao," the kidnapper of Army Gen. Victor Obillo and Maj. Eduardo Montealto, and 23 other political prisoners.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez told reporters yesterday the move was aimed at averting a planned hunger strike of a number of political prisoners in the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

"We have already asked the (non-government organizations) Selda and Karapatan to assist us and continue the processing (for the prisoners’ release)," he said. "This cannot be done overnight. But this is to show the government’s good faith with CPP-NPA and that the government is really interested in lasting peace."

Maria Hilao-Enriquez, Karapatan secretary general and an organizer of the hunger strike, told The STAR yesterday police had charged captured rebels with common crimes to keep them in jail and that one of them, Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, is facing 17 criminal cases before a Quezon City regional trial court, including kidnapping. homicide, murder and arson.

"We want to see prisoners actually released from prison," she said. "We’re tired of hearing broken promises."

Enriquez had accused Executive Secretary Renato de Villa of allegedly blocking the release of the political prisoners in defiance of Mrs. Arroyo’s order.

But De Villa denied the allegation, saying the government is just careful about the prisoners’ release because many of them are still facing charges in court. – Delon Porcalla