Another NDFP peace consultant arrested; CPP demands Porferio Tuna’s immediate release

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) demands the release of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Porferio Tuna who was arrested in Tagum City, Davao del Norte last October 2.

CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said Tuna’s arrest is meant to punish him for serving as consultant to formal peace negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

“We demand that all his rights be respected, including his right to a lawyer of his own choosing, and that he be immediately released,” Valbuena said in a statement Friday, October 11.

Tuna served as peace consultant of the NDFP during negotiations with the Philippine government in Norway in 2016.

Porferio Tuna (extreme left, partially hidden) arrived in Oslo, Norway, in 2016 to participate in formal peace negotiations. [Photo by R. Villanueva/Kodao]

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The CPP said Tuna substantially contributed to the negotiations with his deep knowledge of the peasants and minority peoples’ situation in Southern Mindanao.

His presence in the negotiations allowed the NDFP to effectively represent and advance their interests in negotiating and crafting an agreement on comprehensive socioeconomic reforms, it added.

Porferio Tuna (standing second from the left, second row) after the 3rd round of formal negotiations between the Rodrigo Duterte GRP and the NDFP in Rome, Italy, in January 2017. [Photo by J. Bustamante/Kodao]

Tuna was last seen publicly when he commanded the battalion-sized parade of the New People’s Army in Davao City’s Paquibato District during the CPP’s 48th founding anniversary celebrations in 2016. Attended by thousands of supporters and well-wishers, it was the CPP’s biggest open anniversary celebration in its history.

WATCH: Pulang Bagani Battalion leads celebration of CPP’s 48th anniversary

Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala announced Tuna was arrested in Purok Magkidong in Barangay Mankilam in Tagum City by combined military and police team.

He is reportedly currently detained at the regional police headquarters in Davao City and possibly facing kidnapping, illegal detention and murder charges for allegedly leading NPA attacks against government soldiers.

The CPP however said the charges against Tuna are “bogus” and aimed at keeping him in jail for a long time, like 800 political prisoners all over the country.

“His arrest is a brazen violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), an agreement between the Philippine government and the NDFP which prohibits either side from committing acts of reprisal against each other’s peace negotiators and personnel,” the CPP said.

The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. GRP and the NDFP mutually announced in November 2023 they are conducting negotiations to possibly resume formal peace negotiations after former president Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally cancelled the talks in 2017.

“His arrest does not help build confidence in efforts to further peace negotiations,” Valbuena said.

Valbuena revealed that Tuna “…is being ganged up by military officers as well as by traitors turned military agents, to force him to turn his back against his principles and the people’s national democratic cause.”

“He is being subjected to intense psychological torture, with threats against him and his loved ones, if he does not surrender to the fascists,” he added.

“We call on all local and international human rights organizations, peace advocates and democratic groups to help secure Tuna’s release, in order to allow him to continue his work as a peace consultant and serve the people, especially the plantation workers and peasants of Davao region,” Valbuena said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)