Govt releases Balweg brother, 2 NDFP consultants

The government has released from detention the suspected assassin of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg and two consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) following the dismissal of criminal cases against them. In a press statement released Friday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles lauded the release of Jovencio Balweg and NDPF consultants Maria Luisa Purcray of Agusan del Norte and Jaime Soledad of Leyte. She said the release is a bonus that will favorably affect the government's current negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP). "The government has always maintained its commitment to this peace process," Deles said. Balweg, who was arrested on 18 May 2009, was ordered released by Judge Corpus Alzate of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 1 in Bangued, Abra on July 19,2011, following the dismissal of all the cases against him. He is the brother and suspected assassin of former priest Conrado Balweg of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army. Purcray, on the other hand, was arrested in February 2010. Purcray was previously charged with murder, homicide and robbery. The CPP earlier asked the government to release the three and other NDFP consultants. Confidence-building measure Alexander Padilla, head of the government panel negotiating with the CPP-NPA-NDF also acknowledged the releases. "We are appreciative of the efforts made by other government agencies in this matter," he said. Padilla noted the release of the rebel leaders is part of the confidence-building measures initiated by the government panel and shows the government's commitment to the peace process. In the Oslo Joint Statement of 21 February 2011, the government panel committed to “continue to work on appropriate measures to effect the expeditious release of all or most of the fourteen (14) JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees)-listed NDFP consultants and personalities before the second round of the formal talks, subject to verification as provided in the JASIG Supplemental Agreement dated June 26, 1996, or on the basis of humanitarian and other practical reasons." The government panel and CPP-NPA-NDFP Reciprocal Working Committees on Socio-Economic Reforms are scheduled to meet in August. The parties have agreed to a time-frame of 18-months to three years to reach agreement on three remaining agenda items that will complete the process such as socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and end of hostilities and disposition of forces. — RSJ, GMA News