MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday described as “misplaced” National Democratic Front (NDF) leader Luis Jalandoni’s fear that he would be arrested once he arrives in the Philippines.
Communist negotiators have canceled a planned trip to the Philippines that was intended to move forward the stalled peace talks with the government.
Jalandoni said the trip would not push through, citing statements from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that he would have the communist negotiators arrested unless President Duterte orders him otherwise.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, maintained Jalandoni and other negotiators who would join the informal talks would not be arrested.
“The apprehension of the National Democratic Front leader, Luis Jalandoni, that he would be arrested once he sets foot in Philippine soil is misplaced,” Panelo said in a statement.
“Given that the President has opened a venue for informal talks with the NDF leaders to explore the possibility of resuming the peace talks, it goes without saying that no arrest shall be made during the days of informal talks,” he added.
Panelo, also the President’s chief legal counsel, said Año’s statement was made when the peace talks were cancelled by Duterte because of the “violations of the ceasefire agreement” by the communist rebels.
The NDF is representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and its guerrilla arm, the New People’s Army in the peace talks with the government.
“Mr. Jalandoni’s intention in returning to the country is to promote the peace talks between their movement and the Philippine government, he is assured therefore that no arrest will be effected upon his person,” Panelo said.
“To think otherwise is contrary to logic for certainly, a successful amicable discussion between the parties cannot be expected when one party’s liberty is – or threatened to be – compromised,” he added.
CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said the NDF negotiators decided not to push through their trip home because of the threat of arrest.
“They have been threatened with arrest by military and police authorities of the Duterte regime and Duterte himself has given no assurance of safety and has publicly expressed lack of interest in any effort to resume the peace negotiations,” Sison said.
Sison said NDF lawyers have also warned of court summons being served under Proclamation 374, designating the CPP-NPA as “terrorists.”
NDF panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili, for his part, said he has no pending warrant of arrest of any case in the Philippines, but decided to abort his trip to the country for his own security.
He said his name was not even included in the proscription case of the 600 suspected communist rebels.
“As far as I know, too, I have no outstanding case in any (Philippine) courts,” Agcaoili said.
Agcaoili revealed that on Oct. 19, they received an invitation from the Norwegian embassy in Manila to meet the new ambassador and his staff.
The courtesy call was set on Nov. 20 at the embassy.
“On Nov. 7, it was suggested that we meet also with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte while in Manila, considering that more than three months have passed since the GRP postponed the scheduled resumption of formal talks in Oslo, Norway, on June 28, 2018,” Agcaoili said.
Agcaoili said they welcomed the suggestion and asked a mutual friend to help facilitate the appointment.
He said that on Nov. 13, an official appointment with the President was set on Nov. 23 for him and four others.
“On Nov. 14, I received a message from presidential spokesman… Panelo asking for preparatory meetings with us, together with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, before the appointment with the President on Nov. 23. We agreed to the meetings taking into account our scheduled arrival in the country on the evening of Nov. 19 and our appointment with the Norwegian ambassador in the afternoon of Nov. 20,” Agcaoili said.
Agcaoili said that on Nov. 16, Año, the former Armed Forces chief, issued a statement that they would be arrested upon their arrival unless the President says otherwise.
He said that at around the same time on Nov. 16, Duterte said in Papua New Guinea that he was not yet prepared to resume the talks.
“As a consequence, we decided the following day to forgo with the trip of Mr. Jalandoni and Ms. (Coni) Ledesma whose names are in the so-called proscription case against the CPP and NPA,” Agcaoili said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Romina Cabrera