PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has granted conditional pardon to 10 consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in line with the ongoing peace talks between the government and communist rebels.
The political prisoners, who were convicted of charges, ranging from theft to multiple murder are Apolonio Barado, Arnulfo Boates, Barigueco Calara, Sonny Marbella, Manolito Matricio, Joel Ramada, Generoso Rolida, Jose Navarro, Ricardo Solangon, and NDFP consultant Emiterio Antalan.
As conditions for their release, the inmates are ordered to avoid “injurious or vicious habits,” allow the police to visit them for inquiries on their conduct or condition, endeavor to be employed regularly and support their families, and comply with orders that the Board of Pardons and Parole may make.
“Should any of the conditions be violated, the sentence imposed shall again be in full force and effect,” the documents on the conditional pardon, signed by Duterte on June 28, read.
The political prisoners were released from the New Bilibid Prison on the evening of July 6, the rights group Karapatan said.
“This should not be, in any way, used as a bargaining chip by the government to impose on the NDFP a bilateral ceasefire agreement and further undermine discussions on the substantive agenda such as human rights and international humanitarian law, socioeconomic and political reforms,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general said.
“The release of all political prisoners, we repeat, is an issue of justice and should not be dependent on the whim and caprices of the military or even the President.”
In a media interview at Bukidnon on Thursday, Duterte said he would demand that extortion activities by the New People’s Army be halted first, before any talks between government and communists could continue.
“I refuse now to resume the talks with them until they stop this extortion. Because people will say they are paying taxes, but they are not getting any protection from the NPA,” he said in Filipino.
“It’s plain extortion. And if they want to continue, to resume the talks, one of the things that I would demand would really be that they stop the extortion activities,” he added.
While he was Davao City mayor, Duterte had advised businessmen to give in to the New People’s Army’s demand for” revolutionary taxes” only to make an about-face today. With Rio N. Araja
