Army denies harming jailed rebel leader

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Army has denied maltreating captured New People’s Army commander Tirso Alcantara, named by the communist negotiating panel as a “consultant” whom it wanted released before it would resume peace talks with the government.

Army spokesperson Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said Alcantara, identified by the military as the commander of NPA forces in southern Luzon, was given comfortable living quarters and allowed to receive visitors while in detention.

“He is provided comfortable living quarters and a doctor regularly checks his health,” he said.

Parlade said Alcantara was declared a high-risk prisoner, prompting Quezon Regional Trial Court Branch 57 to grant the request of the Quezon police to turn him over to the Army’s custody.

Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator of the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines, warned last week that the rebels would move to postpone the negotiations scheduled to start this month unless their jailed consultants were freed.

He particularly asked for Alcantara and Alan Jazmines, saying that both were covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig).

Jalandoni claimed Alcantara continued to be shackled to his bed, “a very inhumane condition,” while Jazmines faced “imminent forcible transfer” from the Camp Crame national police headquarters to the Bicutan jail.

Parlade said that Alcantara had indeed been shackled to his bed for a time after the military uncovered an attempt by the NPA to spring the commander out of his cell at the Fort Bonifacio Army headquarters.