By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat
MANILA — Local courts granted the urgent motions for release on bail of eight consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Aug. 12.
Maria Kristina Conti of the Public Interest Law Center and one of the legal counsels of the NDFP consultants provided a list of NDFP consultants granted bail today.
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 granted the bail petitions of Wilma Tiamzon, Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva and Rafael Baylosis. The Tiamzons are also facing charges in three other local courts while Silva has pending cases in two more local courts.
The Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271, meanwhile, ordered the release of Tirso Alcantara, Alan Jazmines and Ernesto Lorenzo on bail. Alcantara has two more cases filed with another court while Jazmines and Lorenzo both have one more case filed with other courts.
The Infanta Regional Trial Court Branch 65 also granted bail for Renante Gamara. He has one more case in another court.
In Davao del Norte, Tagum Regional Trial Court Branch 1 granted the motion for release on bail of Ariel Arbitrario. He is facing another case in another local court.
Lawyers of the 22 detained NDFP consultants and political prisoners await the decisions of some 30 courts on their 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.”
If released, the NDFP consultants are expected to join the formal peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP scheduled this Aug. 20 to Aug. 27 in Oslo, Norway.
The NDFP has maintained the charges are fabricated and violate the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig). 
