MANILA – The assertion being circulated by Randall Echanis and Rafael Baylosis of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines that they were denied access to visit jailed communist leaders, couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police without an explanation is not true.
The duty officer on April 13 has clarified to them that as a matter of standard operating procedure, they need at least one week to process requests for visits.
Enchanis and Baylosis handed their request letter signed by SELDA only on April 13. In light of this, the police regretfully informed Enchanis and Baylosis that they could not grant the request and they were advised to reschedule their visit.
While visits are given the highest priority for immediate relatives, counsels, or their doctors, all others who do not fall under these categories have to undergo the usual scrutiny and process, which require an application submitted days in advance.
“With the distorted information being issued by the NDF, the government peace panel is constrained from making its usual ready endorsement to the PNP relative to their request made through Issa Dumanjug Palo, NDF Monitoring Committee for Human Rights secretariat head, for a rescheduled visit to the Tiamzons,” the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
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