'2 jailed Reds not covered by immunity guarantees'

MANILA, Philippines -  Jailed communist leaders Alan Jazmines and Tirso Alcantara are not covered by the immunity guarantees extended to peace consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Army said yesterday.

Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the NDFP’s proposal to suspend the peace talks until the two rebel leaders are released is “outlandish.”

“Our inside sources… said the duo are not among the listed NDFP consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG),” Parlade said.

“Alcantara and Jasmines are among the most notorious NPA (rebels) who are tagged in horrible crimes,” he added.

Under the JASIG, officials, consultants and staff members of the NDFP involved in tasks related to the peace talks enjoy immunity from arrest.

The NDFP represents the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the peace talks.

Jazmines, a member of the CPP central committee, was nabbed by authorities in Baliuag, Bulacan last Feb. 14. Using the alias “Ka Dex,” he has been charged with rebellion and murder.

On the other hand, Alcantara, leader of NPA forces in Southern Luzon, was arrested by security forces last Jan. 4 in Lucena, Quezon. He was tagged in 23 criminal cases.

The NDFP, however, argued that the arrests of Jazmines and Alcantara were illegal since they were working as peace consultants.

NDFP chairman Luis Jalandoni called for the postponement of this month’s formal talks until the two supposed peace consultants are released.

Parlade, however, said the NDFP is merely peddling a “web of lies.”

Defense department spokesman Eduardo Batac said the NDFP should not use the peace talks to demand the release of communist leaders facing criminal charges.

“These (peace talks) should not be used as leverage toward freeing personalities who have been apprehended by (state) forces. They will have to face the legal process because they are involved in crimes,” he said over the weekend.