Philippines: NDFP Condemns Sentencing of NDFP Consultants Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza

NDFP Condemns Sentencing of NDFP Consultants Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza

25 September 2015 The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) condemns in the strongest terms the conviction by the Aquino regime of NDFP consultants Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza for the trumped up charge of murder and sentencing them to life imprisonment, reclusion perpetua, with no possibility of parole. This is the latest blatant violation by the Aquino regime of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) of 1995 which guarantees peace negotiators, consultants, staffers, security and other personnel with immunity from arrest, detention, prosecution, and other punitive actions. This is likewise a flagrant violation of the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) of 1998, which stipulates that the Hernandez political offense doctrine must be observed and that prisoners and detainees who have been charged, detained or convicted contrary to this doctrine ought to be released immediately. The NDFP demands the release of NDFP Consultants Emeterio Antalan, Leopoldo Caloza and the other NDFP Consultants detained in complete disrespect by the regime of binding peace agreements. These gross violations of the JASIG and CARHRIHL are further proof that the Aquino regime has no political will to comply with peace agreements that are binding and effective. Thus, GPH President Aquino is going down in history as the saboteur of GPH-NDFP peace negotiations. He must answer to the Filipino people, peace advocates in the country and abroad, for destroying the peace negotiations with the NDFP. Luis G. Jalandoni Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel