RP says 'No' to guerrilla release

Tue, 24 Apr 2001 | Source: AFP

MANILA (AFP): Philippine officials on Monday rejected a communist guerrilla demand to free two comrades serving life terms for the murder of a U.S. military adviser, as government negotiators prepared to fly to Norway for peace talks.

President Gloria Arroyo's security advisers decided to reject the National Democratic Front (NDF) demand for the release of the convicted killers of U.S. army colonel James Rowe, national security adviser Roilo Golez told reporters.

Manila also rejected a call to withdraw its membership from the World Trade Organization and abrogate a military training pact with the United States, he added.

Golez said the peace talks should proceed in the Norwegian capital of Oslo as scheduled on Friday despite Manila's decisions.

View JSON | Print