Aglipay Priest Hits P-Noy's Tepidity on NDF Peace Talks

ANTIPOLO City, Nov. 3, 2010-An Aglipayan priest scored Pres. Benigno C. Aquino III's for his alleged arrogance and non-committal stance towards resuming the impending peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, saying his indifference is hindering the release of all political prisoners (PPs) in the country.

Fr. Dionito Cabillas, secretary general of Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensiyon at Aresto (Selda) has criticized Aquino for saying that he would not face National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel chair, Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma, also a member of the NDFP panel, if they would give him a visit at the Palace.

Earlier, Jalandoni and Ledesma have expressed their willingness to meet the 50-year old chief executive but the latter says he would not and would consult first his adviser on the peace process, Teresita "Deng" Deles about the matter.

"While NDFP has shown goodwill and seriousness in pursuing just and lasting peace, Pres. Aquino's rebuff of this effort and his non-committal stance on the release of political prisoners, despite mounting calls for their immediate release, is an act of conceit. It undermines the efforts of church workers, peace advocates and human rights organizations for the resumption of the peace talks between the NDFP and the GRP. It is indicative of the continued injustice being inflicted on the political prisoners," Cabillas stated.

For Cabillas, the resumption of the peace talks is very crucial for the immediate release of the political prisoners, especially those who are considered, NDFP 'consultants.'

Among the jailed NDFP consultants were Angelina Bisuña Ipong (Provincial Jail, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental); Alfredo Mapano (Provincial Jail, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental); Jaime Soledad (Leyte Provincial Jail, Tacloban City); Glicerio Pernia (Albay Provincial Jail, Legaspi City); Eduardo Serrano (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Eduardo Sarmiento (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Jovencio Balweg (PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City); Efren Dela Lamon (Bulacan Provincial Jail, Malolos City); Emerito Antalan (Cabanatuan Provincial Jail, Cabanatuan City); Leopoldo Caloza (Cabanatuan Provincial Jail, Cabanatuan City: and Randy Malayao (BJMP Ilagan, Isabela).

"They were abducted, illegally arrested, tortured and charged with fabricated criminal charges. Their cases constitute violations on the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Hernandez doctrine, which all state that so-called 'political offenses' or the exercise of political beliefs should not be criminalized. Their constitutional rights to due process and against torture are severely trampled upon. They should be immediately released in the interest of justice and lasting peace," says Cabillas.

Earlier, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform has expressed its support on the resumption of the peace talks between the Maoist Communists and the GRP as it will resolve the militarization problem in the countryside.

Even the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national alliance of small fisherfolks' organizations, is persuading Pres. Aquino to get the ball rolling in the issue of peace talks.

Gerry Albert Corpuz, Pamalakaya's public information officer said, the resumption of peace talks means a better life for the marginalized sectors like the small fishermen for part of the said negotiation is agrarian and fisheries reform, that is beneficial for the people living in the countryside. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)