The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) demanded the release of detained National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant for Southern Mindanao Porferio D. Tuna Jr., following the dismissal of criminal charges against him by a local court in Davao.
The CPP in a statement last Tuesday said Tuna was a victim of trumped-up charges “to indefinitely detain and silence NDFP peace consultants” and must be protected from more fabricated charges by the government.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31 in Davao last December 19 dismissed charges of serious illegal detention and robbery with violence against Tuna, adding the offenses are legally absorbed under a pending rebellion case before RTC Branch 57 in Mabini, Davao de Oro.
Tuna was arrested on October 2, 2024, by the 10th Infantry Division in Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, while recuperating from medical treatment.
CPP Chief Information Officer Marco L. Valbuena said that Tuna’s arrest also violated the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which protects peace negotiators and consultants from harassment, arrest, or reprisal.
Signed by both the Manila government and the NDFP, the JASIG supposedly ensures the safety of both parties’ peace personnel.
Tuna served as peace consultant of the NDFP during negotiations with the Philippine government in Norway in 2016.
Valbuena emphasized that Tuna’s continued detention—along with that of 14 other NDFP peace consultants and staff—undermines confidence-building measures for further peace negotiations.
“Since signing the Oslo Joint Statement on November 23, 2023, with the NDFP, Marcos and his representatives, along military officers have thrown numerous obstacles to prevent the progress of formal peace negotiations,” he said.
The CPP urged local and international human rights organizations, peace advocates, and democratic groups to support efforts for Tuna’s immediate release so he can continue serving the broad masses of the Davao region.
“We also join the Filipino people in demanding the release of nearly 700 political prisoners across the country,” Valbuena said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
