Court grants NDF consultant bail to join peace talks

National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Rafael Baylosis,  accused of multiple murder following the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte, on Friday “surfaced” at the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 32 and was granted bail.

He appeared before the court a few days before the start of  formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway on Aug. 20.

The high court earlier revoked his P100,000 bail posted in 2007 after he jumped bail.

National Union of People’s Lawyers secretary general Edre Olalia, in a text message, said Judge Thelma Bunyi-Media has allowed Baylosis to post P150,000 bail.

READ: Reds want more comrades freed for talks

Olalia said Baylosis was assisted by NDFP Legal Consultant Atty. Rache Pastores from the Public Interest Law Center.

Baylosis is part of the Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms of the NDFP.

Baylosis is one of  50 accused of multiple murder following the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte containing remains of those believed to be victims of “Operation Venereal Disease” who were killed supposedly to purge the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army of suspected military informers.

His co-accused former partylist Representative Satur Ocampo, Randall Echanis and Vicente Ladlad have been allowed by the Supreme Court to attend the peace talks. CDG/rga

READ: SC junks bid for release of NDF heads invited in Oslo talks