Govt won't release remaining NDFP consultants

The government will not release the remaining consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) unless the group cooperates in the peace negotiations, the Aquino administration's chief negotiator said Wednesday. "Paano naman tayo magrerelease nang magrerelease tapos sila naman ay laban lang nang laban, so hindi pwede yun," lawyer Alexander Padilla, head of the government panel negotiating with the CPP-NPA-NDF, said during a forum of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in Quezon City. Padilla explained that out of the 18 consultants of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) in their custody, five have been already released. He said the release of the five rebel leaders was part of the state's confidence-building measures and commitment to the peace process. But Padilla said that one of the consultants released, Maria Luisa Pucray, reportedly went underground while another named Glicerio Pernia suddenly went missing. "If it was true that she (Pucray) really went underground, there was an escalation of attacks in Mindanao after her release. If they went underground... they might have an effect," he said. Aside from this, Padilla said the demand of the NDFP for the release of the consultants before continuing with the peace talks was in violation of their agreement in Oslo, Norway. "This was never part of any of the agreements we arrived at in Oslo. Ang usapan nga namin sa Oslo, any talk about JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees), as well as yung releease of any prisoners was supposed to be discussed as a sidetable mechanism, meaning to say dapat habang nag-uusap kami formally substantively dapat nagtutuloy whatever issues they might have. "Kaya hindi kami umuusad, paulit-ulit... mag-momove forward (ito) if they stick to our previous agreements which they signed," he added. Despite the stalemate, Padilla said they are not closing their doors to more negotiations. "Our doors have always been open, we have never suspended talks. We are still open to any form of negotiations matuloy lang yung formal talks, particularly the substantive agenda," he said. He said that if they manage to continue the peace talks, they hope to finish it by 2012. The parties had earlier agreed to reach an 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. Negotiations between the government and the NDFP have been stalled since 2004. — RSJ, GMA News