Duterte vows release of rebels in 48 hours if GPH, NDF sign ceasefire agreement
President Rodrigo Duterte promised to release communist rebel detainees in 48 hours if the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panels produce a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement.
Quoting Duterte, GPH chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III said, “Produce to me a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement and I will release them within 48 hours. You can take my word for it.”
“The President told us that once he receives even just a facsimile copy of the signed agreement, he will immediately order the release of communist rebels,” Bello added.
The clarification came after Duterte, on Monday, said he wants to see a signed document between the GPH and the NDF before releasing hundreds of political prisoners as the government has already given way to several concessions to push through with the peace talks.
Nonetheless, Duterte promised to release old and sick detained rebels before Christmas Day.
The government panel holding peace talks with the NDF has submitted a list of 200 prisoners to be released, under the new guidelines of the Presidential Committee on Bail, Recognizance and Parole (PCBREP).
Twenty-five (25) of them are elderly, sick and women. But the NDF claimed 434 rebels are still being held in different detentions all over the country.
Four rebel farmers — Martin Villanueva, Bonifacio Suyon, Dindo Absalon and Rico Bodina — who were convicted for murder and kidnapping were given presidential pardon last week.
The GPH had already released 21 rebel leaders who served as NDF’s peace consultants ahead of the peace talks.
While the GPH and the NDF have standing unilateral ceasefires signed in August, they have yet to reach a joint permanent ceasefire agreement.
Peace talks are expected to resume in Rome, Italy in January instead of Oslo, Norway.
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/591388/news/nation/duterte-vows-release-of-rebels-in-48-hours-if-gph-ndf-sign-ceasefire-agreement