THE communist National Democratic Front on Friday warned that the delay in the release of the alleged political prisoners promised by President Rodrigo Duterte could undermine its peace negotiations with the government.
Newly appointed NDF negotiating panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili demanded a general amnesty for the more than 400 alleged political prisoners.
That, he said, would be “a matter of justice and compliance with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.”
He said President Rodrigo Duterte had offered a general amnesty for political prisoners in a meeting on May 16.
“The NDF has kept to its obligation on its unilateral ceasefire declaration. However, the promise to release the political prisoners seems to be suffe ring from delay after delay after delay,” Agcaoili said.
“If this anomalous situation continues, it can serve as a disincentive to the NDF in further pursuing the discussions on prolonging the ceasefire and arriving at a bilateral agreement on a more stable ceasefire.
“The most effective method of release is through an amnesty proclamation as offered by President Duterte himself.”
Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III said Duterte would announce an amnesty only after the successful conclusion of the peace negotiations.
But Agcaoili said “the proffered amnesty proclamation pertains to political prisoners and not to a general amnesty that is mutually extended to both Parties in the final settlement of an armed conflict.”
He said the prompt resolution of the issue would go a long way in creating a favorable atmosphere for prolonging the ceasefire and advancing the peace talks.
CPP founder Jose Maria Sison says the NDF is cool to the idea of a ceasefire because government forces have the habit of violating their own ceasefire by conducting military operations.