Government lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to release “temporarily and conditionally” from detention 10 members of the National Democratic Front so they could participate in the peace talks set in Oslo, Norway this month.
In an urgent motion filed by the Office of the Solicitor General, sought to be released temporarily were Tirso Alcantara, Alex Birondo, Winona Birondo, Maria Conception Bocala, Reynante Gamara, Alan Jazmines, Maria Loida Magpatoc, Adelberto Silva, Benito Tiamzon, and Wilma Tiamzon.
NDF member Rafael Baylosis was included in the list submitted by the OSG to the SC. But in the case of Baylosis, the OSG said that since he jumped bail, he should surrender first and be allowed to post bail.
Baylosis and the Tiamzons have pending criminal cases before the Manila Regional Trial Court in connection with mass graves in Inopacan, Leyte. The eight other NDF members have pending criminal cases in various courts.
(Rey G. Panaligan)
