The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today renewed its call for the immediate release of 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.

In an order dated December 19, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31 in Davao, presided by Judge Arlene I. Lirag-Palabrica, dismissed charges of serious illegal detention and robbery with violence against Tuna. The court ruled that these offenses are legally absorbed under Tuna’s pending rebellion case before RTC Branch 57 in Mabini, Davao de Oro, in accordance with the Hernandez Doctrine.

Tuna, 60, was arrested on October 2, 2024, by elements of the Military Intelligence Battalion (MIB) under 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 the RTC decision exposes the Marcos regime’s “malicious tactic of filing trumped-up charges to indefinitely detain and silence NDFP peace consultants.” He warned against the filing of more fabricated cases by Marcos’ regime to further prolong Tuna’s imprisonment.

Valbuena stressed that Tuna’s arrest also constitutes a blatant violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which protects peace negotiators and consultants from harassment, arrest, or reprisal. The JASIG is a standing agreement between the Philippine government and the NDFP, ensuring 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. He provided the Negotiating Panel of the NDFP with valuable information regarding the situation of the peasants, plantation workers and minority people in the Southern Mindanao, in order for the NDFP to effectively represent and advance their interests in negotiating and crafting an agreement on comprehensive socioeconomic reforms.

Valbuena emphasized that Tuna’s continued detention—along with that of 14 other NDFP peace consultants and staff—undermines confidence building 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 concluded.

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