Govt slams communist demands

THE government on Thursday questioned the communist rebels’ sincerity after they postponed a meeting on social and economic reforms and demanded the release of more of their detained comrades.

Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla said the meeting on social and economic reforms had been postponed twice in so many months, and that he had sought “a reiteration of commitment” from his rebel counterpart, Luis Jalandoni.

Jalandoni replied that they could resume the negotiations, but the government must release more New People’s Army leaders that the National Democratic Front considered “consultants.”

“We are disappointed. We are frustrated,” Padilla said.

“There was never a pre-condition that the prisoners must be released. In spite of that, we released four of them. Before, they were asking for only one as a sign of goodwill, and now they are demanding for more.

“If that is really their position, maybe they don’t want the peace process to push through.”

Padilla said he had a scheduled meeting with NDF negotiating panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili next week to discuss the communist demands.

The government has released NPA commanders Jovencio Balweg, Angelina Ipong, Maria Luisa Pucray, and Jaime Soledad following the dismissal of their cases.

The following are the remaining NPA leaders—including the charges against them—that the communists want released:

• NPA Southern Tagalog leader Tirso Alcantara, (multiple murder, robbery, kidnapping and rebellion)

• CPP central committee member Alan Jazmines, (rebellion and murder)

• Emeterio Antalan (murder, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms)

• Edwin Brigano, a ranking NPA leader in Davao City (robbery and homicide)

• Pedro Codaste, top NPA leader in Agusan del Sur (multiple murder)

• Randy Felix Malayao (two counts of murder)

• Alfredo Mapano (double murder and robbery)

• Glicerio Pernia (murder, multiple frustrated murder and highway robbery)

• Eduardo Sarmiento (arson and illegal possession of firearms)

• Eduardo Serrano (multiple murder)

• Paterno Opo (double murder)

• Vincent Borja (murder)

• Dario Tomada (mass killing of suspected government spies during the Leyte purge)

• Marilyn Badayos-Condes (rebellion and murder).
–Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today