“Peace negotiations shall resume in the higher interest of peace and national security.” – Supreme Court
By RONALYN V. OLEA
MANILA — Lawyers of detained consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines filed with various local courts motions for urgent release on bail.
The motions were filed following the Aug. 5 resolution of the Supreme Court calling on local courts to give appropriate priority to cases involving NDFP consultants. In its en banc resolution, the high court said “peace negotiations shall resume in the higher interest of peace and national security.”
The GRP and NDFP peace panels agreed to resume formal talks from Aug. 20 to Aug. 27 in Oslo, Norway. The Duterte administration pledged to release detained NDFP consultants for the talks.
Wilma Tiamzon, one of the NDFP consultants implicated in the Hilongos
case, said she looks forward to their release so they can participate in the talks.
Lawyers from the Public Interest Law Center and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers filed the motions for release on bail yesterday, Aug. 9.
Tiamzon is a member of the reciprocal working group to tackle the agreement on End of hostilities and disposition of forces while her husband Benito Tiamzon will serve as an adviser on current events and the national situation, the lawyers said in their motion.
The Tiamzon couple is facing charges before local courts in Manila, Quezon City and Cebu.
A similar petition was filed for the release of another NDFP consultant Adelberto Silva. Silva, a member of reciprocal working committee on socioeconomic reforms, is facing charges before local courts in Manila, Cagayan and Northern Samar.
The NDFP has maintained the charges are fabricated and violate the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig).
The NDFP is calling for the release of 25 NDFP consultants and ailing political prisoners.
I really like the new “look” of Bulatlat.
The Peace Talks? Sadly, I’m not so optimistic, as much as I want it to succeed. All I can say is that: If Duterte continues to sleep with dirty dogs (The AFP), then he’ll get fleas. Digong has not done anything to right the wrongs done to the Lumads who still suffer from the abuses of the paramiltary lumpen dregs coddled by the Armed Fascist pf the Philippines. (My apologies to real dirty dogs)
Congratulations on the new “look.”