Luis Jalandoni
Chairperson
NDFP Negotiating Panel
Chairperson
NDFP Negotiating Panel
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) condemns in the strongest terms the illegal arrest of Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria by the Aquino regime’s security forces this afternoon in Carcar, Cebu.
Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria are NDFP Consultants who have fulfilled and are fulfilling highly significant tasks in the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP/GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Wilma Austria is holder of NDFP Document of Identification ND978226 under her real name. She is holder of the Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III which states: The above named person is entitled to the safety and immunity guarantees asprovided under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) for the duration of the peace negotiations. You are hereby required to facilitate the safe conduct and free passage of the above named person.”
Benito Tiamzon is likewise the holder of NDFP Document of Identification ND 978227 under the assumed name “Crising Banaag”. He is likewise holder of a Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III.
The NDFP vigorously demands that Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria be immediately and unconditionally released.
This latest flagrant violation of the JASIG by the Aquino regime, in addition to so many other gross violations of the JASIG, most seriously prejudices the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations.
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140322_ndfp-condemns-illegal-arrest-of-ndfp-consultants-benito-tiamzon-and-wilma-austria
Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria are NDFP Consultants who have fulfilled and are fulfilling highly significant tasks in the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP/GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Wilma Austria is holder of NDFP Document of Identification ND978226 under her real name. She is holder of the Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III which states: The above named person is entitled to the safety and immunity guarantees asprovided under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) for the duration of the peace negotiations. You are hereby required to facilitate the safe conduct and free passage of the above named person.”
Benito Tiamzon is likewise the holder of NDFP Document of Identification ND 978227 under the assumed name “Crising Banaag”. He is likewise holder of a Letter of Acknowledgment signed by then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairman Silvestre H. Bello III.
The NDFP vigorously demands that Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria be immediately and unconditionally released.
This latest flagrant violation of the JASIG by the Aquino regime, in addition to so many other gross violations of the JASIG, most seriously prejudices the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations.
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140322_ndfp-condemns-illegal-arrest-of-ndfp-consultants-benito-tiamzon-and-wilma-austria
Various comments posted to the Office of the Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process (OPAPP) provide the government's views on the JASIG and why it does not currently apply to alleged NDF consultants who have been captured/imprisoned. See comments below:
ReplyDeleteUnderscoring the need for proper verification procedures, the statement said the GPH “cannot blindly extend JASIG coverage to just anyone that the NDF alleges is covered, especially since the NDF has consistently claimed highly-placed captured party members to be covered by aliases in its JASIG list, without offering any proof." The panel said that “the NDF could not produce any of the needed photographs for the verification procedure,” consequently resulting in unverifiable aliases. Thus there could be no further releases. “While the GPH remains faithful to its commitment to release all verifiable JASIG-covered NDF consultants, it has no choice but to extend JASIG protection only to the persons in the JASIG list using their real names and those other NDF consultants who have been duly identified,” it stated. - See more at: http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/key-resumption-talks-lies-compliance-oslo-joint-statement-%E2%80%93-gph#sthash.c9aS7kNB.dpuf
Although the GPH panel agreed with Jalandoni's view that JASIG is important, it also stressed “that JASIG compliance requires verification without which the process lacks integrity.” - See more at: http://www.opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/key-resumption-talks-lies-compliance-oslo-joint-statement-%E2%80%93-gph#sthash.c9aS7kNB.dpuf
We reiterate our position that as a logical consequence of the NDF’s failure to comply with the terms of the verification mechanism, JASIG has been rendered inoperative. - See more at: http://opapp.gov.ph/cpp-npa-ndf/news/gph-panel-press-statement-arrest-mr-reynante-gamara-alleged-ndf-consultant-under#sthash.3fvo9IUu.dpuf