Philippines: Duterte mulls granting amnesty to all communist prisoners
NPA guerrillas in Far South Mindanao in formation during the 46th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.PHOTO BY EDWIN ESPEJO
IN a bid to end a communist insurgency that has killed 40,000 people in the span of four decades, Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte plans to grant amnesty to all political prisoners.
According to ABS-CBN News, The National Democratic Front of the Philippines confirmed this proposal on Wednesday, a gesture which has been well-received by NDF chairperson Luis Jalandoni.
The idea to release the prisoners is aimed at resuming peace talks with the communist rebels as it was previously stalled.
“We are pleased [to hear] that Duterte may make a general amnesty declaration to release the political prisoners when he becomes president,” Jalandoni said in Filipino (translated) on Radio dzMM.
Jalandoni said there were currently 543 political prisoners, of which 88 were sick and elderly. He said 18 of them were NDF peace consultants while three are carrying out life sentences.
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Duterte, Jaladoni said, was also tipped to suspend all military operations against the communist rebels pending a peace agreement. He added guerrilla fighters would also agree to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reported communist rebel leaders welcoming Duterte’s offer of four Cabinet posts or an alliance government.
This raises the possibility that the Marxist guerrillas, who demand an end to U.S. military presence in the country and free land distribution to farmers, could assume high positions in the government.
The presumptive president, who won the most votes according to unofficial counts, has offered the Communist Party of the Philippines Cabinet posts in the agriculture, environment, social welfare and labor departments.
The party said Wednesday that Duterte knows that policy changes are more important than the Cabinet spots.
It remains to be seen what common ground can be forged given wide gaps between the views of the rebels and those in the military and business communities.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
