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Talks to proceed despite non-release of political prisoners —NDFP legal counsel


Formal talks with the Philippine government will proceed later this month even as political prisoners remain detained, a legal consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) said Tuesday.

NDFP senior legal counsel Rachel Pastores said in a television interview that the release of political prisoners will be brought up in the third round of talks, scheduled from January 18 to 25 in Rome, Italy.

"That is one of the issues we want to ask the government on the third round of peace talks," Pastores said.

"The NDF will ask for an update from the government panel on what happened, what actions they have undertaken, and why despite their pronouncement no releases have been made," she added.

Pastores said they "were hoping for releases" after a phone conversation between President Rodrigo Duterte and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison last December.

She noted that there is "justness" in the organization's demand for the said release, adding that most of the political prisoners "are facing trumped-up charges."

Pastores also noted that based on their "experience in the past," courts "recognized the nobleness of the purpose of the peace process and they would follow," which she said is contrary to the government reasoning that the slow pace of judicial processes is hampering the release of these prisoners.

Still, she reiterated that the organization "remains committed to pursuing peace negotiations."

The NDFP is demanding the release of at least 400 political prisoners as part of the peace negotiations with the government, which has so far released 21 rebel leaders since the resumption of the talks in August 2015.

The organization earlier criticized the government peace panel over the issue, saying they should refrain from referring to it as a mere act of goodwill.

It said the Philippine government is obliged "under signed agreements" to release political prisoners, under the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

Last month, NDFP adviser Luis Jalandoni said the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines was willing to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the government before the release of all political prisoners.

He noted, however, that the agreement will be binding only upon the release of all political prisoners within 48 hours. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG, GMA News

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