By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat

MANILA — The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 granted the urgent motion for release on bail of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants Wilma Tiamzon, Benito Tiamzon and Adelberto Silva.

The court also granted the three and two other NDFP consultants Randall Echanis and Rafael Baylosis permission to travel to Oslo, Norway for the resumption of formal talks scheduled on Aug. 20 to Aug. 27.

This morning, Aug. 11, Baylosis appeared at the Manila RTC Branch 32. Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina granted the bail petition of Baylosis.

The Tiamzons are facing other charges in Cebu and Quezon City local courts while Silva has other cases pending in Isabela and Northern Samar local courts.

Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and one of the NDFP legal consultants, said they are waiting for reports on hearings and decisions from other courts.

Lawyers of the 22 detained NDFP consultants and political prisoners filed with several courts the same urgent motions for 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 government peace panel has appealed to the local courts to act on the bail petitions of NDFP consultants.

The NDFP has maintained the charges are fabricated and violate the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig).