Reds cancel plans to return amid threat of arrest

MANILA, Philippines — National Democratic Front peace panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili, NDF senior adviser Luis Jalandoni and peace panel member Coni Ledesma have cancelled plans to return to the country to meet President Duterte due to the administration’s alleged threat to arrest them.

In a story posted on the NDF website, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison disclosed that Agcaoili was scheduled to return yesterday, but the trip may likely be cancelled since Duterte has not yet given assurance that the returning NDF leaders would not be arrested or harassed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during their stay in the Philippines.

“Fidel also feels insecure and wants to be assured that there will be no threat against him from the military or police despite assurance of safety from (presidential peace adviser) Jess Dureza and Bebot Bello (government chief peace negotiator) that there is no pending charge against him,” Sison said.

Agcaoili, Jalandoni and Ledesma are seeking a meeting with Duterte to work out the possible resumption of peace talks. 

Sison said Agcaoili was scheduled to leave Utrecht, the Netherlands for his return trip to the country on Monday if there were no threats of his possible arrest. 

“But Louie (Luis Jalandoni) and Coni (Ledesma) have already decided not to return to the Philippines due to threats of arrest from General Año (Interior Secretary Eduardo Año),” said Sison who is also NDF chief political consultant.

On Sunday, Dureza said the meeting between Duterte and NDF leaders could take place next week.

Dureza said preparations were already made for the return of Agcaoili, Jalandoni and Ledesma.

He confirmed on Sunday that he and presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo are seeking an informal meeting with the NDF consultants.

In a statement, Dureza said President Duterte has ordered them to meet Agcoili and Jalandoni should they come to the Philippines.

“President Duterte has tasked me and secretary Panelo to meet with them in an informal chat. I am now on my way to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York so the planned meeting may take place upon my return next week,” Dureza said.

He said he had checked and found that Agcaoili and Jalandoni had no pending warrants of arrest.

Dureza added that the petition filed at the Department of Justice to declare the CPP, its armed wing New People’s Army and the NDF as terrorist groups remains pending.

But for Año, the two communist leaders have both pending warrants of arrest and would be arrested unless President Duterte orders otherwise.

Quoting information from the PNP, Año alleged that Agcaoili and Jalandoni have pending warrants of arrest in Quezon province.

Sison added that the NDF lawyers expressed fear that there might be court summons waiting for Jalandoni and Ledesma since they are included in the list of 600 proscription cases connected with Proclamation 374.