Gov’t: 12 NDF ‘consultants’ not covered by JASIG

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve alleged National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants whom chief peace negotiator Luis Jalandoni wants released are not covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), the government said yesterday.

In a statement, the government peace panel said 52-year-old Ma. Loida Magpatoc was arrested for robbery with double homicide and damage to property on July 28 on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Zenaida Placer of  Regional Trial Court Branch 7 of Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur.

“She (Magpatoc) is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa,” the government peace panel said.

“The letter of acknowledgment which she (Magpatoc) alleged holds, explicitly refers to one Puri Feleo, and there is no proof that Ms. Magpatoc and Ms. Feleo are one and the same.

“To date, the GPH has released the following NDF personalities under proper court proceedings as part of confidence-building measures: Jovencio Balweg, Maria Luisa Purcray, Edwin Brigano, Glicerio Pernia, Randy Malayao, and Jaime Soledad (who was re-arrested in May 2012 due to double murder charges ),” the government peace panel said.

The government peace panel said it remains faithful to its commitment under the JASIG to release all verifiable JASIG-covered detained NDF personalities.

“Meaning all those in the JASIG list who are identified by their real names and others who have been duly identified as consultants to the NDF panel,” the government panel said.

The government panel said since the NDF did not deposit the actual photograph of Magpatoc in the bank vault in the Netherlands as required under the JASIG Supplemental Agreement to identify their consultants using aliases, the government has no way to verify Magpatoc’s claims of being covered by JASIG.

“To our disappointment, three (Pernia, Purcray and Brigano) of these NDF personalities have returned to active underground activities,” the government panel said.

“With respect to the remaining 12 alleged NDF consultants, whom Mr. Jalandoni also demands to be released, their names do not appear in the JASIG list.  Hence, they are not covered by the agreement.”

Magpatoc had her Document of Identification with her, identifying her as one of the JASIG-protected individuals,  when state security forces arrested her in Digos City, Davao del Sur on July 28, the NDF said.

In 1995, the government and the NDF signed the JASIG, stating among others that all duly accredited persons are guaranteed free and unhindered passage in all areas in the country and in traveling to and from the Philippines in connection with the performance of their duties in the peace negotiations.

JASIG also provides that accredited persons are those in possession of documents of identification or safe conduct pass.

 The immunity guarantees for all accredited persons include immunity from surveillance, harassment, search, arrest, detention, prosecution and interrogation or any other similar punitive actions due to any involvement or participation in the peace negotiations.

 The NDF claimed that Magpatoc is an NDFP peace consultant who had been immersing and consulting with the local community  in barangays of southern Mindanao.