Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) – Human rights group Karapatan said the release of detained consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) must be a requisite before moving forward with the plans to revive the peace talks with the government.
Karapatan Secretary General Tinay Palabay said previous agreements between the government and the NDFP, particularly the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), must be honored. Part of it is ensuring the safety of all NDFP consultants participating in the peace negotiations.
\”Kung wala ang mga consultants, how can the technical working groups and reciprocal working groups and committees work in order to discuss the roots, as they said, the roots of the armed conflict?\” Palabay said.
[Translation: If the consultants are absent, how can the technical working groups and reciprocal working groups and committees work in order to discuss the roots, as they said, the roots of the armed conflict?\”]
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary General Raymond Palatino said it is the government’s responsibility to release the 17 NDFP consultants since they are in jail over trumped up and fabricated cases during the Duterte administration.
\”Sana ‘wag gawing hostage ‘yung mga NDF consultants, ang kanilang release, to dangle kung itutuloy o hindi ang peace negotiation,\” Palatino said.
[Translation: I hope the NDF consultants will not be made hostages, their release, to dangle whether or not the peace negotiations will continue.]
He said the agenda in the peace talks must also be about the release of 795 political prisoners in the country.
In a statement, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez said there should be no preconditions that may derail future discussions on the peace talks.
Galvez said Karapatan’s statement is reckless and puts weight on the peace table.
As of now, Galvez said both parties have yet to set parameters and frameworks on the final peace agreement.
