The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) demands the immediate release of Ka Loida Magpatoc, peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

Ka Loida was arrested last Wednesday in Barangay Paitan, Quezon, Bukidnon by a combined military and police force in violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), signed by the GRP and NDFP in 1995, which guarantees the rights of peace negotiators, consultants and personnel of either side against reprisals.

Ka Loida is a member of the Reciprocal Working Committee on Socioeconomic Reforms. She has been conducting work among the peasant masses and minority communities to determine their conditions and aspirations.

We denounce the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for filing trumped up charges of murder and rebellion against Ka Loida in violation of the JASIG. She must be immediately afforded legal representation.

We denounce the AFP for publicly parading and declaring Ka Loida as being infected with Covid-19 in violation of her right to medical privacy, as well as her rights against public humiliation under the JASIG and international humanitarian law. She must also be allowed to seek medical attention by independent health workers or doctors of her choice.

We call on local and international human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as peace advocates, to extend assistance to Ka Loida.

The arrest of Ka Loida forms part of the continuing campaign of murder and suppression against peace consultants and personnel of the NDFP. The Duterte regime and its armed fascist agents are responsible for the killing of NDFP consultants Julius Giron, Eugenia Magpantay, Agaton Topacio, Reynaldo Bocala and Randy Malayao since 2018. In continuing violation of the JASIG and human rights, it continues to keep Vicente Ladlad, Adelberto Silva, Frank Fernandez, Renante Gamara, Rey Casambre and hundreds of others imprisoned as political prisoners.

The Party demands an immediate stop to this campaign against the NDFP consultants in peace negotiations. We enjoin all democratic forces to close ranks and undertake urgent action to demand the release of Ka Loida and all other NDFP consultants.