Group calls for release of 350 'political prisoners'

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Peace advocates in Mindanao have urged the government to reciprocate, as part of the confidence building measure in the ongoing peace negotiations, the release during the weekend of seven people captured by communist rebels in two separate incidents.

In a statement, the Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, an independent humanitarian mission, said that with these developments, a challenge is posed to both parties -- the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) -- to uphold reciprocal measures that would push forward the peace talks.

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The group witnessed on Saturday the release of four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel in Northern Mindanao who were abducted last July 21 by the communist rebels along the highway in Bukidnon province.

The freed jail officers were turned over to the group after a simple ceremony held at Barangay Balite in Magpet, a hinterland town in North Cotabato.

The group said the challenge is posed, not only to both panels, but to other peace advocates and the Filipino people to further pursue and support sustained peace negotiations even in the face of the intensification of civil war in the Philippines.

In a press conference held last Saturday at the Bishops Palace in Barangay Balindog here, Sowing the Seeds convener Bishop Felixberto Calang said the government should also respond to calls to free more than 350 political prisoners incarcerated in different parts of the country.

"We reiterate our humanitarian appeal for the release of the political prisoners in the country. Unlike NPA prisoners of war and captives who have faced legal and judicial proceedings and accorded basic due process, political prisoners have been charged with common crimes and not properly accorded recognition as political dissenters," Calang said.

"The families of these political prisoners are agonizing as well over the continuing detention of their loved ones," he said. "We hope issue is taken seriously as an agenda in upcoming GPH-NDF formal talks."

On Sunday, the group was also informed that the rebels released Lingig Mayor Henry Dano and two of his security escorts somewhere in the hinterlands of Surigao del Norte after more than two months in captivity.

Calang said his group was pleased with the decision of the NDF to suspend the judicial proceedings against Dano and to cause the conditional release of the mayor’s escorts identified as Corporal Alrey Desamparado and Private First Class Allan Saban of the Army’s intelligence unit.

The group said the safe release of the jail officers, including Dano and his escorts, was proof the resolution of the crisis could only happen in peaceful negotiations.

“As members of the churches and as peace advocates, we appreciate the granting of freedom to the NPA captives in response to our humanitarian appeals,” Calang said in a statement.

But for the Anad party-list, the release of NPA hostages was a "face saving act.

"It is all for publicity. A redeeming act to bail them out from the worst CPP-NPA-NDF debacle committed in the 42 years of Maoist terrorism in the country," said Anad party-list Representative Jun Alcover.

Alcover, in a statement, said the BJMP personnel should not have been taken hostages "under any circumstances."

"They are non-combatants as recently and correctly said by the New York City based Human Rights Watch. Their evil plan to use the hostages as bargaining chips and pressure government to release at least 13, if not all, political detainees before the peace negotiations shall resume, did not work forcing them to release the hostages," he said. (MCM)