CPP-NDF demand to gov’t: Release Alcantara By Mario J. Mallari 01/13/2011

CPP-NDF demand to gov’t: Release Alcantara

By Mario J. Mallari 01/13/2011

The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NDFP) has formally demanded the release of the New People’s Army (NPA) top commander Tirso Alcantara who is claimed to be among theconsultants in the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the CPP-NDFP.

In a letter to GRP negotiating panel head Alex Padilla, NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni confirmed the earlier pronouncement of the CPP that Alcantara is among the holders of a Document of Identification issued by the NDFP to its personnel participating in the peace negotiations.

The CPP said the government should immediately release Alcantara, alias Ka Bart, to enable him to sit as a consultant of the NDFP and represent the Southern Tagalog region once formal peace negotiations with the GRP resumes on Feb.19 to 25 in Oslo, Norway. ”The continued detention of Ka Bart and other NDFP peace consultants and their staff constitutes a blatant violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or Jasig,” said the CPP..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110113nat2.html