For peace talks, CPP demands release of NPA commander

(Update 2 - 11:01 p.m.) The Communist Party of the Philippines demanded the release of a ranking New People's Army official, Tirso Alcantara, as a condition for the holding of formal peace talks with the government in February. Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Philippine National Police said police commanders are on alert for possible retaliatory attacks by the CPP-NPA for Alcantara's arrest. In demanding Tirso "Ka Bart" Alcantara's immediate release, the CPP claimed Alcantara is a consultant of the National Democratic Front's peace panel and is covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). "Ka Bart (Alcantara) is a leading official of the New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Southern Tagalog and is among the NDFP's Philippine-based consultants for peace negotiations," the CPP said in a statement on its website. The Philippine Army earlier described Alcantara as the commander of the Regional Operational Command of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee. Alcantara once served as spokesman of the Melito Glor Command and the CPP when Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal suffered a stroke. Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they have instructed police commanders to be on alert for possible retaliatory attacks by the CPP-NPA for Alcantara's arrest. "Inalerto na natin yung mga police commanders natin na maging alert dahil iniiwasan natin yung posibleng retaliatory attacks ng mga NPA dahil sa arrest nga ni Tirso Alcantara," Cruz said. Alcantara was arrested on Tuesday night after being wounded in a firefight with government security forces in Lucena City in Quezon province. Alcantara was later brought to the V. Luna Medical Center (now AFP Medical Center) in Quezon City. The PNP said Alcantara is the highest ranking NPA leader arrested in recent years and had outstanding warrants of arrest for murder, kidnapping and robbery. Police said Alcantara resisted arrest when PNP and Army intelligence units tracked him to a rebel hideout in Lucena city, Quezon. Standing warrants of arrest In an interview with GMANews.TV, lead government negotiator Alex Padilla clarified that the NPA commander was arrested not because he was a communist rebel, but because he has "more than 10" standing warrants of arrest. "He did not present papers to show he was part of the negotiations," Padilla added. The peace negotiator said they are willing to release Alcantara once they have verified that he is indeed a consultant in the negotiations. Padilla said they will check if Alcantara's name is on the list of officials involved in the peace talks. The list is currently being kept in a safety deposit box by an archbishop in the Netherlands, as required under the JASIG made under the Ramos administration. Padilla said they would try to review the list when the two parties meet in Oslo, Norway in January and February to start the peace talks. Under the JASIG, the safety deposit box could only be opened "in the presence of both parties," Padilla said. In the meantime, Alcantara will remain detained and under the jurisdiction of the court, Padilla said. Human rights The CPP, in claiming that Alcantara is a “consultant" of the NDF peace panel, also demanded for his humane treatment and the respect for his rights. It also demanded that Alcantara's lawyers and doctors be given immediate access to him "to assist him in his legal and health care needs." "We hope the upcoming resumption soon of formal peace negotiations will not be stalled by the further holding in custody of Ka Bart, who is covered by the JASIG," the CPP added. Successful surgery Meanwhile, the military said Alcantara underwent a successful surgery Wednesday after getting shot when he attempted to resist arrest. Quoting AFP Medical Center head Col. Joselito Avancena, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said Alcantara, however remained at the hospital’s intensive care unit as he is still recuperating from the surgery. “Certainly, it was successful," Mabanta said of the operation that removed the bullet from the upper portion of Alcantara’s right leg. “Ka Bart is still pain but very much conscious. He was given a surgery to remove a bullet embedded at his right." Alcantara said the military offered the best medical facilities and treatment that the AFP Medical Center could offer. He said that as of Thursday, they have spent about P50,000 for the hospitalization and treatment of Alcantara. Mabanta said Alcantara was allowed to entertain visitors, including members of the left-leaning human rights group Karapatan and their lawyers. “This means that all his legal rights are given to him," he said. Mabanta said Alcantara will be turned over to the PNP once he recuperates. All systems go Amid calls for Alcantara’s release, Norway made assurances that everything is set for the resumption of preliminary talks between the Philippine government and the NDF in Oslo next month, according to President Benigno Aquino III's peace process adviser. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said Thursday the Royal Norwegian Government, the third party facilitator for the talks since 2001, has notified the government that logistical arrangements have been finalized. “The venue has been reserved so nothing can stop this," Deles said in a radio interview. The negotiating panels of the government and the NDF — the rebel umbrella group led by the CPP-NPA — are set to hold informal talks on February 14 to 18. NPA and AFP units engaged in a gun battle in Matuguinao, Samar a day after the holiday truce ended on January 4, but Deles stressed that this “does not affect the preparation for the negotiations." "There are no preconditions to carry on the procedures," Deles said, adding that government security forces are always in “active but defensive mode." The AFP has resumed its regular operations conscious of the peace process that is now taking place, she said. “We are well-coordinated with our security forces," Deles added.– VVP/RSJ/KBK/DM/JV, GMANews.TV