Written by Noel Sales Barcelona   

The alleged arrogance of Philippine Pres. Benigno C. Aquino III hampers the resumption of the long overdue peace talks between the Philippine government and the communists and even hinders the immediate release of all political prisoners (PPs) in the country.

In a statement, Philippine Independent Church priest, Rev. Dionito Cabillas, who serves as secretary general of SELDA, the statement of Mr. Aquino saying that he would not face National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel chair, Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma, also a member of the NDFP panel, if they would give him a visit at the Palace, signals trouble on the resumption of the peace negotiations as well as the release of hundreds of political prisoners, jailed in different correction facilities in Luzon, the Visayas and in Mindanao.

Earlier, Jalandoni and Ledesma have expressed their willingness to meet the 50-year-old chief executive but the latter says he would not and would consult first his adviser on the peace process, Teresita “Deng” Deles about the matter.

“While NDFP has shown goodwill and seriousness in pursuing just and lasting peace, Pres. Aquino’s rebuff of this effort and his non-committal stance on the release of political prisoners, despite mounting calls for their immediate release, is an act of conceit. It undermines the efforts of church workers, peace advocates and human rights organizations for the resumption of the peace talks between the NDFP and the GRP. It is indicative of the continued injustice being inflicted on the political prisoners,” Cabillas stated.

For Cabillas, the resumption of the peace talks is very crucial for the immediate release of the political prisoners, especially those who are considered, NDFP ‘consultants.’

Among the jailed NDFP consultants were Angelina Bisuña Ipong (Provincial Jail, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental); Alfredo Mapano (Provincial Jail, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental); Jaime Soledad (Leyte Provincial Jail, Tacloban City); Glicerio Pernia (Albay Provincial Jail, Legaspi City); Eduardo Serrano (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Eduardo Sarmiento (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Jovencio Balweg (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Efren Dela Lamon (Bulacan Provincial Jail, Malolos City); Emerito Antalan (Cabanatuan Provincial Jail, Cabanatuan City); Leopoldo Caloza (Cabanatuan Provincial Jail, Cabanatuan City: and Randy Malayao (BJMP Ilagan, Isabela).

“They were abducted, illegally arrested, tortured and charged with fabricated criminal charges. Their cases constitute violations on the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Hernandez doctrine, which all state that so-called ‘political offenses’ or the exercise of political beliefs should not be criminalized. Their constitutional rights to due process and against torture are severely trampled upon. They should be immediately released in the interest of justice and lasting peace,” says Cabillas.