UPDATED: Duterte pardons NDFP consultant, 9 others
President Rodrigo Duterte granted pardon to 10 political prisoners including a National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant today, human rights group Karapatan announced. Peace consultant Emeterio Antalan, along with Joel Ramada, Apolonio Barado, Jose Navarro, Generoso Rolida, Arnulfo Boates, Manolito Patricio, Josue Ungsod and Sonny Marbella were ordered released today from the New […]
Ailing detainee back in jail after Duterte’s lifting of ceasefire
AN AILING political prisoner recuperating in a care facility had been taken back to jail last February 4 after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted his government’s unilateral ceasefire declaration with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Amelia Pond, teacher and curriculum developer of the Lumad school Salugpongan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanogon Learning Center (STTICLC), was […]
People’s orgs press for release of political prisoners via general amnesty
Members of peasant organizations, rights advocates and Church-based organizations today held a rally at Mendiola to call on the Duterte government to immediately release the 392 political prisoners through general amnesty. The rally came a day before the resumption of the 3rd round of formal talks between the GPH and NDFP.
Third round opens amidst complaints of CARHRIHL and JASIG violations
ROME, Italy—Despite major problems before its convening, the third round of formal peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) opened as scheduled at ten thirty this morning local time (5:30 pm Philippine time). Both parties expressed optimism that the six-day negotiations […]
CASER to be tackled most at third round of talks
ROME, Italy–The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have approved a common agenda of the third round of formal negotiations. Hours before the formal opening of the talks to be held for the first time in this ancient city, both panels met and agreed […]
Political detainees support third round of talks despite continued imprisonment
ROME, Italy—Political prisoners are finding their promised release too slow in coming even as they expressed support for the third round of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Two days before the talks in this ancient city, 33 political prisoners […]
Activists condemn human rights violations under Duterte
Thousands of activists slammed continuing human rights violations under the Rodrigo Duterte administration in rallies on International HUman Rights Day last Friday. In Manila, the main rally led by Karapatan said Duterte is not serious in giving justice to victims of rights violations. Instead, the activists said Duterte buried the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as […]
Lawyers present six reasons why political prisoners must be freed
People’s lawyers held a press conference at Mendiola this morning and cited six reasons for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) joined human rights victims and their kin in solidarity fasting and stressed the legal and humanitarian grounds for the release. […]
Sison: CPP ready to terminate ceasefire if political detainees are not released by January
Kodao’s Raymund Villanueva interviews National Democratic Front of the Philippines chief political consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison on President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to release all political prisoners, ceasefire, peace talks, new AFP chief of staff Eduardo Año, and extra-judicial killings connected to the so-called drug war. Kodao: In a recent interview, you said the […]
NDFP will not be swayed by Duterte’s ultimatums–Agcaoili
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is mistaken to think that the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would be swayed into signing a bilateral ceasefire with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, NDFP Negotiating Panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili said. Reacting to Duterte’s threat that he will not release political prisoners without a signed bilateral ceasefire […]