By LUIS G. JALANDONI
Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panel calls for the immediate release of NDFP Consultant Jovencio Balweg. There is urgency to his immediate release, because NDFP Consultant Balweg is in an intensive care unit at the Philippine Heart Center after undergoing a heart bypass operation on 20 April.
NDFP Consultant Balweg was arrested last May and since then detained in gross violation of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. His fragile health condition has deteriorated under detention.
At the 15 June 2009 meeting of the Panel members of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the NDFP in The Hague, the NDFP already included Balweg among the NDFP consultants who should be released in preparation for the then scheduled resumption of formal peace talks in Oslo in August 2009.
The NDFP Negotiating Panel calls for the immediate release of NDFP Consultant Balweg on humanitarian grounds. He needs to recuperate and recover under the care of his family, friends and doctors of his choice. He must not be compelled to continue suffering under the dire conditions of illegal detention by the GRP's armed forces.
