Military won’t release jailed communist leaders

The Department of National Defense (DND) yesterday stood firm against the release of captured communist rebel leaders Tirso Alcantara and Alan Jazmines as demanded by peace negotiators.

A DND spokesperson said the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) should not use the peace negotiations aimed at ending the four decade-long Maoist insurgency as a means to free their jailed comrades.

“Definitely we don’t agree. They should not use that (demand) to stall the peace talks. If the parties are sincere, they should go beyond personalities,” Defense Undersecretary and Spokesperson Eduardo Batac said in an interview yesterday.

NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni had called for the postponement of the formal peace talks scheduled to begin this month until their jailed “consultants” are released.

He particularly called for the release of Communist Party of the Philippines leader Alan Jazmines and New People’s Army commander Tirso Alcantara who are facing criminal charges.

“The peace talks should not be used as leverage towards freeing prisoners who have been apprehended. They will have to face the legal process because they are involved in crimes. They will have to go by the legal process,” Batac said.

Batac said the NDFP should focus on issues.

Alcantara, who reportedly commanded rebel forces in Southern Luzon, was captured in Lucena, Quezon last January 4. He has pending 23 criminal cases.

On the other hand, Jazmines, reportedly a member of the CPP Central Committee, was arrested in Baliuag, Bulacan last February 14. He is wanted on rebellion and murder charges.

Jalandoni claimed that Alcantara and Jazmines should enjoy immunity from arrest under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) because they are in the NDFP list of negotiators and consultants.

“Such claims are being verified by (the government) peace panel,” Batac said.