NDFP calls on government to free 'consultants' facing raps

MANILA, Philippines -  The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) renewed yesterday its call for the government to free its supposed consultants who are facing criminal charges, saying that failure to do so would “seriously prejudice” the peace talks.

NDFP chairman Luis Jalandoni said failure to release their consultants like Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leader Alan Jazmines and New People’s Army (NPA) commander Tirso Alcantara casts doubt on the government’s sincerity in pursuing the talks.

“The sincerity of the government of the Philippines… is under serious question because of the failure to release Alan Jazmines and other consultants of the…NDFP and JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees)-protected persons,” Jalandoni said in a statement.

Under the JASIG, officials, consultants and staff members of the NDFP who are involved in tasks related to the peace talks enjoy immunity from arrest. The NDFP represents the CPP and the NPA in the negotiations.

Jalandoni said the government’s negotiating team has committed “to work for the expeditious release of detained NDFP consultants and other JASIG-protected persons… in the spirit of goodwill.”

The military, however, said Jazmines and Alcantara should face the criminal charges filed against them.

“They committed crimes so they should answer them before the court of law. We should follow due process,” Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs chief, said in a phone interview.

Burgos believes the detention of top rebel leaders with pending criminal charges would not jeopardize the peace process.

“We remain optimistic (about the peace process) and we believe the best way to resolve conflict is through peaceful means,” he said.

Jazmines, a member of the CPP central committee, was nabbed by authorities in Baliuag, Bulacan last Feb. 14, a day before the resumption of the formal talks in Norway. Jazmines, who used the alias “Ka Dex,” is facing murder and rebellion charges.

On the other hand, Alcantara was arrested last Jan. 4 in Lucena, Quezon. Alcantara, the leader of the NPA in Southern Luzon, was implicated in 23 criminal cases.

Jalandoni said Jazmines is a member of the NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee on Social and Economic Reforms and is therefore protected by JASIG.

He added that Alcantara has been participating in the peace process between the government and the NDFP.

Talks between the government and the communists were supposed to resume in Oslo, Norway in 2009. The talks, however, failed after the government rejected a demand to free supposed consultants of the NDFP with pending criminal cases.

Government negotiators and the NDFP held the first round of their formal talks last Feb. 15 to 21.