TOP leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultants Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were finally released Friday from the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center.
The Tiamzons were out on bail to participate in the peace talks between the government and the NDFP leadership in Oslo, Norway starting August 22.
“Kami ay nagpapasalamat kay President Rodrigo Duterte sa pagpapalaya sa amin at sa pagbubukas muli ng usapang pangkapayapaan para pag-usapan ang mga malalimang reporma sa lipunan, sa ekonomiya, at sa pulitika na kinakailangan para bigyang wakas ang armadong labanan,” Benito said.
"Sa kabuuan, kami ay malaki ang tiwala na susulong at makakamit ang mga pagkakasundong pangkapayapaan para makamit ang mga repormang panlipunan. Alam namin na maraming hamon na kailangang igpawan para magtagumpay nang lubos ang usapang pangkapayapaan," he added.
The couple was arrested last March 2014 in Cebu City over charges of multiple murder, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention. Wilma was secretary-general of CPP-New People's Army and Benito was its chairman at the time of their arrest.
Apart from the Tiamzons, NDFP legal counsel Edre Olalia said Jaime Soledad, Kennedy Bangibang, Ruben Saluta, Winona Birondo, Alfredo Mapano, Concha Bocala, Alan Jazmines, Tirso Alcanatara, Reynante Gamara, Ernesto Lorenzo, Ariel Arbitrario, Eduardo Genelsa, Adelberto Silva, and Loida Magpatoc had already been released.
The Tiamzons were among the 22 key consultants of the NDFP negotiating panel that will aim to iron out a deal to end the decades-long armed struggle in the Philippines.
“The release of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon propels the talks to a positive higher ground, even as the frustrating bureaucracy has delayed the releases and even impeded that of the five others. With the peace talks set to resume next week, we hope for substantial agreements on socio-economic and political change,” said Rachel Pastores, legal counsel of the Tiamzons.
The release of the two was delayed reportedly due to the late arrival of the release order from the concerned courts to the PNP custodial center.
Duterte's 'sincerity'
In a statement, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the release of Tiamzon couple only proved that Duterte is “sincere and determined” to end the insurgency problems of the country.
“There should be no longer any doubt that President Rodrigo Duterte is serious and determined to find a peaceful solution to the decades old insurgency in the country, following the release of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon,” Dureza said in a statement.
Duterte had ordered the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist in providing travel documents and orderly departure of the NDF consultants who will join the peace panel in Oslo.
In the case of visas, the Philippine embassy of the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG) has started issuing to all delegates from both panels.
Dureza said the government and the NDF had agreed to expedite the peace process by simultaneously holding negotiations on the five major agenda items by creating respective reciprocal working groups.
"The peace panels are expected to immediately tackle the following: social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, end of hostilities and disposition of forces, ceasefire, joint security and immunity, and release of political detainees," he said.
The Philippine delegation, Dureza said, is set to leave the country on Saturday for the peace talks.
"The Tiamzons are the last among the GPH panel head Silvestre Bello already left for Saudi Arabia but will travel directly to Oslo in time for the arrival of the Philippine delegation," said the press realease from the office of the presidential adviser on the peace process.
Other members of the GPH panel were lawyers Rene Sarmiento, Antonio Arellano and Angela Librado-Trinidad.
The fifth member, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza left ahead to confer with the NDF panel in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
The Philippine delegation will leave for Oslo on August 20.
Dureza Friday said the government of Norway is underwriting the travel expenses of the NDF delegation.
RNG is hosting the peace talks as a third party facilitator. (With KVC, SunStar Davao)