By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat
MANILA — Three local courts in Aklan, Iloilo and Antique granted the urgent motions for release on bail of Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for peace talks.
Bocala, more popularly known as Concha Araneta, is expected to walk free Monday, according to her lawyer Janne Baterna of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)-Iloilo.
Bocala, also the spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) regional committee in Panay island, was arrested by elements of of the 301st Brigade in Barangay Juntalo, Molo, Iloilo on Aug. 1, 2015. She was charged with rebellion and murder.
The CPP said Bocala should have been immune from arrest as she is protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig). Signed by both parties in 1995, Jasig provides immunity from arrest and other forms of harassment to all participants in the peace talks.
Bocala, 65, is expected to fly to Oslo, Norway for the scheduled resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the NDFP on Aug. 20 to Aug. 27.
In the 70s, Bocala, was a student activist at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. When martial law was declared, she joined the New People’s Army (NPA) to fight the Marcos dictatorship.
The temporary liberty of NDFP consultants is only for the duration of the peace talks.
Other conditions imposed by the GRP panel include returning to the Philippines after the formal peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway and reporting to the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Norway whenever required. The GRP panel also maintained that once the participation of the NDFP consultants ceases or the peace negotiations are terminated, their respective bonds shall be automatically canceled. 
