President Rodrigo Roa Duterte PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Update
President Rodrigo Duterte cannot just order the mass arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders as its members are still covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
Militant lawmakers pointed this out on Thursday in reaction to Duterte’s pronouncement that he will have communist leaders arrested after signing a proclamation declaring CPP and its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) as a terrorist group.
“Kung sasabihin ng gobyerno na huhulihin sila, mass arrest sila, that’s a violation of JASIG dahil ‘yan ay pinagkasunduan ng dalawang panig,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said in a press conference with other progressive legislators.
The JASIG is an agreement signed by the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), CPP’s political wing, in February 1995. It guarantees safety and immunity to negotiators, consultants and other personnel joining the peace talks.
“Hindi pwede na sabihin lang ni (Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque) na may proclamation na and that’s it. As a lawyer, alam natin na kailangan ang agreements, sundin dapat ang nakasaad doon,” Zarate said.
Zarate said that until Malacañang issues a formal termination of the JASIG, the leaders could not be arrested.
Also, the termination will only take effect 30 days after its date of issuance.
About 32 political prisoners were released before the peace talks were halted. They included the CPP’s top cadres, couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Alan Jazmines and Tirso Alcantara.
“For those who are out temporarily, you just maybe zero-in on now, because any day now, I will order for their mass arrest. Wala akong magawa eh. Ginusto ninyo (I cannot do anything about it. You asked for it), I’m addressing them to the TV, ginusto ninyo e (you asked for it),” Duterte said in a speech last Wednesday.
Duterte said communist rebels would now be considered as “common criminals.”