Released communist rebels face arrest

MANILA, Philippines - The government will move to have leaders and members of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) arrested and jailed again following the cancellation of talks due to recent attacks by its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) on government troops, Solicitor General Jose Calida bared yesterday. 

Malacañang, through presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, said it was President Duterte who ordered the cancellation of the informal talks.

“He did say so… He did indicate that it cannot proceed unless the fighting ceases,” Abella said.

Abella said Malacañang is leaving it to the military to decide on its defense posture following the scrapping of backchannel talks. 

“We’ll have to trust them on that… They will be responsive in a manner that’s most appropriate in protecting the safety of the Filipino people,” he said. 

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the backchannel talks with the communists have been cancelled because the environment conducive for the negotiations is still not present. But he said it is a temporary hitch that could still be resolved.

The military, the police and several senators expressed support for the decision to stop the backchannel talks with the communists as they doubted their sincerity to achieve peace.

Last Wednesday, after providing a briefing for the senators regarding the implementation of martial law in Mindanao and the situation in Marawi City, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said it is difficult to talk peace with one side that has no control over its forces at all.

“How do you talk peace with them when they are extorting money from businesses and ordinary planters of bananas or even people raising ducks? Is this a matter of ideology or principle or is this just a matter of survival or extortion?” Esperon said.

Calida said his office would ask the Supreme Court (SC) and several regional trial courts (RTCs) handling the cases against the communist leaders to now recall the bail grant earlier given to them for their participation in the peace talks in Norway last year, including spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

He said they would also ask the RTCs to re-issue commitment orders on communist leaders who are standing trial for various criminal cases.

The government cancelled the backchannel talks set later this month in Europe following the attack of suspected NPA rebels in Arakan, North Cotabato last Wednesday that wounded five members of the Presidential Security Group.

There have been other attacks perpetrated by the communist rebels, prompting Duterte to suspend formal peace talks in May. Duterte said the talks would not resume if the NPA rebels continue their hostilities.

It was the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) that sought temporary liberty for the Tiamzons and 18 other jailed NDF consultants last year for their participation in the peace process between the communist rebels and the government.

Calida explained that when the high court granted bail to them in its resolution in August last year, which was adopted by the RTCs, the SC had set specific conditions.

“One of the conditions is that once their participation ceases or the peace negotiations are terminated, their respective bonds shall be deemed automatically canceled,” Calida said.

“Since the government has already canceled the backchannel talks, the NDF consultants’ provisional liberty automatically ceased,” he said, adding that since the peace talks are suspended, these consultants should now surrender

“Supreme Court decisions form part of the law of the land. Hence, the Resolution dated Aug. 2, 2016 supersedes the defunct 1995 JASIG agreement between the parties, which has become moot and academic,” he explained.

Last February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued immigration lookout bulletin order (LBO) against the 20 NDF leaders.

Apart from the Tiamzon couple, covered by the LBO are Tirso Alcantara, Ma. Concepcion Bocala, Pedro Codaste, Renante Gamara, Alan Jazmines, Ernesto Lorenzo, Ma. Loida Magpatoc, Alfredo Mapano, Ruben Saluta, Adelberto Silva, Ariel Arbitrario, Renato Baleros Sr., Kennedy Bangibang, Jaime Soledad, Rafael Baylosis, Alex Birondo, Winona Birondo and Porferio Tuna. – With Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy, Rhodina Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano