Motions filed to expedite release of NDF execs in time for talks

Urgent motions have been filed and more are set to be submitted for the release of detained National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants in preparation for the formal peace talks which will begin on Aug. 20 in Oslo, Norway.

The filing of the motions began after the Supreme Court denied the request of the government, through Solicitor General Jose Calida, for the release of the political prisoners, saying it had no jurisdiction over some of them. The court said the motions should be filed in the courts where the consultants’ cases were pending.

The high court allowed only former party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and NDF consultants Randall B. Echanis and Vicente Ladlad to attend the talks. The three have been out on bail since 2007.

On Tuesday, an urgent motion to release on bail was filed in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 for Benito and Wilma Tiamzon. Wilma is a member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) reciprocal working group helping to forge an agreement with the government on ending hostilities and disposition of forces, while Benito is a consultant of the NDFP panel on the national situation and current issues.

“The knowledge and experience of both accused on the plight of the majority of the Filipino people will contribute to the forging of agreements between the GPH (Government of the Philippines) and the NDFP (to address) the root cause of the armed conflict. As such, their presence and participation in the formal peace negotiations is crucial and needed to achieve its purpose,” the urgent motion stated.

Aside from multiple murder charges in Manila, the Tiamzons are also facing kidnapping with serious illegal detention at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, murder and frustrated murder in Laoang, Northern Samar, and illegal possession of explosives in Toledo, Cebu.

NDFP legal consultant Edre Olalia, said a similar motion would be filed in the other courts where the Tiamzons had pending cases.

Apart from the Tiamzons, Olalia said they had also been preparing similar motions for the other consultants.

At least 20 NDF consultants are detained in various courts for criminal charges.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the temporary release of the consultants pursuant to a previously signed Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee or Jasig.