Duterte clarifies position on release of political prisoners

From GMA News (Jun 25): Duterte clarifies position on release of political prisoners

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has clarified that he will not release political prisoners ahead of the passage of amnesty law by Congress, as he hit the media anew for supposedly twisting his statements.

Speaking at the change of command ceremony at the Davao City Police Office on Friday, Duterte slammed a newspaper report which quoted incoming Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III as saying that he will grant freedom to several political prisoners upon his assumption of office on June 30.

“Ang sinabi ko noon I will only agree during the preliminary stage of these Oslo talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines. Kung dito sa Pilipinas I will give the leaders, the Tiamzon spouses, a free conduct pass outside to allow them to take part in the talks,” said Duterte, referring to spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, who are considered peace consultants by the communist group.

“But there will be no mass release of the NPA (National People’s Army) sa ating custody ngayon. They will only be released if things go good, fine, then baka sakali. If they are ready to surrender the arms and resume their normal role in the society then I might consider with Congress amnesty,” he added.

The report said that according to Bello, they will seek the release of those covered by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees and the elderly and sick. Rights group Karapatan said that there are 543 political detainees.

Of the number, 18 are consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, 88 are ill, and 48 are already in their senior years.

Formal peace negotiations between the incoming Duterte government and communist rebels will begin in the third week of July in Oslo, Norway, where both sides met for a preliminary meeting on the sidelines of a peace forum last week.

The formal round of negotiations would focus on five points, including the affirmation of previously signed agreements, amnesty proclamation for the release of all political prisoners subject to the concurrence by Congress, and mode of an interim ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Duterte maintained that he will no longer grant media interviews until the end of his term knowing that some members of the press have the "penchant" of slanting their stories.

"Sila ‘yan eh, sila ‘yang mga bunganga, kanilang laro ‘yan. They would always place you in a bad light sa trabaho natin," Duterte said.

Media groups earlier criticized Duterte for insinuating that corrupt journalists deserved to be killed. He was also criticized for catcalling GMA News reporter and anchor Mariz Umali during a recent press briefing. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/571284/news/nation/duterte-clarifies-position-on-release-of-political-prisoners