Manila: A top communist negotiator urged the government to release 21 more political prisoners who were arrested and charged between 2006 and 2008, after the Philippine government suspended the immunity of peace negotiators and consultants of the 40-year-old Communist Party of the Philippines and its military arm, the New People's Army (CPP-NPA), in 2005.

The government has made it "difficult or impossible the release of other detained [rebel] consultants," Luis Jalandoni of National Democratic Front (NDF), said.

After the release of Elizabeth Principe, secretary general of the CCP-NPA, by the Philippine National Police in suburban Quezon City on July 21, the justice department has yet to withdraw the charges filed against NDF's 10 consultants and 11 other advisers, said Jalandoni, adding that two rebel leaders are at large with pending warrants of arrest.

"There are strong indications that the [government] intends to scuttle the resumption of formal talks," said Jalandoni. "It is now doubtful whether the meetings scheduled for August 28 to September 5 in Oslo would be held."

The NDF's list of consultants who should be released included Randall Echanis, deputy secretary general of the militant Association of Filipino Farmers, Emeterio Antalan, Edgardo Friginal, Angelina Ipong, Randy Felix Malayao, Glicerio Pernia, Eduardo Sarmiento, Eduardo Serrano, and Jaime Soledad.

The NDF also called for the dismissal of the fabricated charges against Vic Ladlad, executive director of leftist party Bayan; and Rafael Baylosis, vice president of militant May One Movement and vice chair of Children of the Poor, a sectoral party at the House of Representatives.