The Palace has asked the Supreme Court to order the temporary release from detention of 11 leaders of the National Democratic Front to allow them to participate in peace talks in Oslo, Norway, later this month.
In an urgent motion, Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to allow the release of Tirso Alcantara, Alex Birondo, Winona Birondo, Maria Conception Bocala, Reynante Gamara, Alan Jazmines, Ma. Loida Magpatoc, Adelberto Silva, Benito Tiamzon, and Wilma Tiamzon, who are standing trial for various crimes.
Calida also pleaded the release of Rafael Baylosis, another NDF leader who already posted bail in a criminal case but forfeited the bail grant after failing to appear in hearings.
The chief state lawyer said that all 10 NDF leaders would have a “crucial role” in the peace talks where they are supposed to serve as consultants.
The chief state lawyer specifically asked the high court “to issue an order to the individual regional trial courts to order the conditional and temporary release” of the 10 detained NDF members and the grant of bail to Baylosis upon posting of another bail.
The NDF leaders face four different criminal cases, including a multiple murder case involving the killing of 15 suspected government spies in Inopacan, Leyte in 1985 pending with the Manila regional trial court and where Baylosis and the Tiamzon couple stand as accused.
In seeking temporary release of the NDF leaders, the OSG has proposed several conditions to the Supreme Court.
The Solicitor General suggested that the accused be released “only for the purpose of their attendance and participation in the formal peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway commencing in August 2016, and that the period of their temporary release shall not exceed six months.”
Calida also proposed that a cash bond of P100,000 each be posted with the Office of the Clerk of Court, the NDF leaders must provide complete contact information both in the Philippines and Norway and shall undertake to return to the Philippines after the formal peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway.
The NDF leaders should also be required to report to the Philippine embassy in Norway whenever needed, the motion said.
In the case of Baylosis, the OSG said he should first surrender and submit to the jurisdiction of the RTC before being granted relief by the Supreme Court.
The OSG said the attendance of the members of the NDF panel in the peace negotiations “is crucial to the success of the peace talk agreement.”
The government peace panel met with the NDF panel in Oslo last June. They agreed to resume the peace talks this month under the auspices of the Norwegian government as third party facilitator.
Presidential peace process adviser Jesus Dureza earlier said the talks were moved from July to August to ensure that the NDF, Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army will well represented.