The Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines strongly protests the presentation of Eric Jun Baring Casilao by the Philippine National Police as a “terrorist”.

This is totally unacceptable and is not only in violation of basic human rights and international humanitarian law but is shamelessly inhuman. Only real terrorists parade their captives in public for humiliation and ignominy that is a throwback to the dark ages of uncivil conduct.

He has the universal right to be presumed innocent until his case is heard in an impartial court of law under due process. He has the right to legal counsel and other basic civil rights that should be observed by civilized systems.

Eric Jun Baring Casilao is an NDFP consultant for the Reciprocal Working Committee on the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio Economic Reforms (CASER) in Southern Mindanao. In 2004, he decided to seek sanctuary with the masses when he was constantly harassed after being designated the second nominee of Anak ng Bayan partylist in 2004.

The Negotiating Panel demands that his life, security and safety are guaranteed also in compliance with the binding mandates of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).