NDFP demands release of Fernandez couple

Rebel leader Francisco Fernandez and wife Cleofe Lagtapon are presented at the Laguna provincial prosecutor’s office following their arrest with a companion, Gee-Ann Perez. —PHOTO FROM PUBLIC INTEREST LAWCENTER

BACOLOD CITY — The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-Negros has demanded the release of former Catholic priest Francisco Fernandez and his wife, Cleofe Lagtapon, for humanitarian reasons.

In a statement issued on Monday night, the NDFP-Negros said Fernandez, 71, and Lagtapon, 66, were seeking medical treatment in Laguna when they were arrested on Saturday.

“They must be immediately released on the basis of justice, propriety and for humanitarian considerations,” the statement said.

Fidel V. Agcaoili, NDFP panel chair, protested the arrest of Fernandez and argued that he was a “publicly known consultant of the NDFP” in peace negotiations.

1995 deal

“He holds Document of Identification Number PP 978544 as provided for in the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig),” Agcaoili said.

Under Jasig, signed in 1995 by representatives from the NDFP and the government, members, consultants and staffers of NDFP involved in peace negotiations were immune from arrest, detention and enjoyed safety guarantees to prevent any incident that might jeopardize the talks.

But presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo argued that NDFP consultants could no longer invoke “immunity” through the Jasig as peace talks had been terminated by President Duterte since November 2017.

The NDFP-Negros said it found ridiculous for the military and police to find guns and explosives in the couple’s possession because of their advanced age and Fernandez’s health.

The military claimed that three .45-caliber pistols, three hand grenades, cellular phones, USB ports that contained communist documents were recovered from the couple and their companion, Gee-Ann Perez, 20.

NDFP-Negros said the three had not been presented to their lawyer since their arrest on Saturday.

In danger of torture

“This is an outright violation of their human rights,” NDFP-Negros said.

“Ka Frank and his companions are in real danger of physical and psychological torture,” the rebel group added.

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander in Negros, assured the families of the three that they were being treated well.

Shortly before his arrest, Arevalo said Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr., former military chief, offered medical treatment to the ailing Fernandez at St. Luke’s Medical Center and set aside P1 million for his medical needs should he surrender.

“It is a lie and a cheap propaganda to say that Fernandez and his companions are being mistreated,” he said. —Carla P. Gomez and Delfin T. Mallari Jr.