‘Political prisoners to be released by batches’

Executive Secretary Renato de Villa said yesterday the government will order the release of more than 200 political prisoners by batches to show that the administration is willing to talk peace with the communist movement.

De Villa said concerned government agencies, particularly the departments of national defense, interior and local government, and justice and the Office of the President, agreed to review the cases of the detainees and eventually recommend their release.

"It will be done by batches. We will process it by batches. Kung ano ang matatapos, ilalabas kaagad (Whoever will be processed first will be released immediately)," he said.

He said Malacañang may approve today the release papers of the first batch of 77 prisoners.

He belied accusations that he was blocking the release of political detainees.

"We’re committed to free them but there’s really a need to follow the process of reviewing and rechecking," he said.

De Villa said non-government organizations are also involved in their review of the cases.

He expressed confidence that after the first batch, the release of the remaining detainees would no longer be problematic.

Meanwhile, De Villa called on the leadership of the communist movement, particularly the New People’s Army (NPA), to release their two hostages, Army Maj. Noel Buan and police Chief Inspector Abelardo Martin, this week.

He cited reports that the two NPA captives would be released very soon. "We really hope that this will be a goodwill gesture," he said.

The Arroyo administration wants to resume peace negotiations with the communist and Moro separatist groups.

But De Villa said the government maintains its no-negotiation policy with the extremist Abu Sayyaf which still holds American Jeffrey Craig Schilling and Filipino dive master Roland Ullah captive. — Liberty Dones