Palace attributes release of Tiamzons to PRRD’s sincerity to walk extra mile for peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 19): Palace attributes release of Tiamzons to PRRD’s sincerity to walk extra mile for peace

Malacanang has attributed the release of the couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon to the sincerity of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to pursue the peace talks with communist rebels.

”The release of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon is an auspicious sign that the President is willing and sincere to walk the extra mile for peace,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

 

On Friday, the Tiamzons were released from their detention for them to be able to participate in the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway.

”We therefore look forward to a fruitful negotiation in Olso, Norway for the historic re-opening of Philippine government and the NDF peace talks,” Andanar said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza agreed with Andanar, saying there should no longer be any doubt on President Duterte’s determination to find a peaceful solution to the decades-old communist insurgency in the country.

The Tiamzons were the last among the detained ranking members of the NDF to walk out as free persons although the court granted only temporary passes for the duration of the formal peace talks which is slated to begin on Aug. 22 in Norway.

”With their release, in addition to more than a dozen of NDF consultants earlier granted bail and already freed, one more stumbling block is removed. We are looking forward to a fruitful but intense negotiations in Oslo,” Dureza said.



Peace negotiations between the Philippine government (GPH) and the NDF were suspended in 2012 due to several disagreements topped by the alleged continued arrests and detention of rebel consultants.



The Tiamzons were the highest-ranking rebel leaders to fell into government hands. They were captured in Cebu City in March last year.


Benito Tiamzon was the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines while his wife Wilma was the secretary general.



Efforts were pursued to re-open the peace talks during the previous administration through the backdoor channeling led by now Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III but these were brought to an abrupt stop after the Mamasapano incident in 2015.



During the May 2016 elections, Duterte, then presidential candidate and Davao City mayor, promised to re-open peace negotiations with the NDF and also gave assurances he will release all detained political prisoners.



However, the releases had to undergo the normal judicial procedures required by law and regulations.



On Monday, the President ordered the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist in providing travel documents and orderly departure of the NDF consultants who will join the NDF panel in Oslo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=915606