DND won’t release communist rebels despite NDF demand

MANILA, Philippines – Peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front should not be hampered by the group’s demand to release two New People’s Army rebels, the Department of National Defense on Friday.

According to DND spokesman Undersecretary Eduado Batac, the NDF should not use the peace talks in their bid to free jailed rebels.

“Hindi naman dapat ginagamit yang mga ganyang bagay as leverage towards freeing prisoners who have been apprehended, personalities who have been apprehended by [government] forces,” Batac said.

He added that the defense department would not give in to the demands made by the rebel group.

“Definitely we don’t agree at hindi maganda na ginagamit just because we’re going through peace talks. Huwag sana nila gawing hadlang ‘yun para di matuloy ang peace talks. Kung sinsero lahat parties, this should go beyond personalities. Marami nang Filipinos ang naapektuhan because of the conflict, [so] we are seeking ways to achieve lasting peace,” the defense official said.

He added that the jailed rebels were facing criminal charges and thus would have to face litigation.

The statement came after NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni demanded the release of Alan Jazmines and Tirso “Ka Bart” Alcantara who he said were consultants of the group and should be protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig).

Jalandoni said that the continued detention of the Jazmines and Alcantara marred the government’s sincerity in going through with the peace negotiations.

However, Batac said that the government was still verifying the NDF’s claims.

“’Yung claims na yan vine-verify ng peace panel. May document na referred to when it comes to personality covered by the document [Jasig],” Batac said.

Jazmines, who the military claimed is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was captured in Baliuag, Bulacan. Meanwhile, Alcantara was arrested in Lucena City. The military identified Alcantara as the leader of the NPA in Southern Tagalog. The two are also facing various criminal charges like murder and rebellion.