Arrest of NDF consultant legal, Palace says

February 1, 2018

Philippine authorities did not violate any agreement with the communist rebels when their consultant, along with a companion, was arrested, Malacanang said on Thursday.

The militant groups have condemned the arrest on Wednesday of Rafael Baylosis and his companion Guillermo Roque and sought for their release.

"Jasig (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee) is not in effect now because there are no peace talks. Why are they talking of the Jasig now?," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Baguio City.

He added the government did not violate the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Left-leaning Karapatan has been demanding for the release of Baylosis, a consultant of the National Democratic Front, and his companion, because their arrest violated the Jasig and  CARHRIHL.

Roque said it would be a dereliction of duty if authorities would not apprehend Baylosis.

He said Baylosis' relatives or sympathizers could file before the court a petition for habeas corpus if they think there was a violation in detaining Baylosis.

Roque said the communist rebels themselves should be blamed for the termination of the peace process.

"(W)hile there were peace talks, they (New People's Army rebels) had been killing the soldiers. They are not exempt from full compliance with our penal laws," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte ended the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-NDF last November and declared the CPP-NPA as terrorist organizations last December. Celerina Monte/DMS