Reds: Rody’s localized peace talks won’t work

MANILA, Philippines — Belittling the offer of housing and jobs for every New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla that surrenders to the government as nothing but “silly incentives,” the National Democratic Front (NDF) predicted that the localized peace talks President Duterte wants with the communist left would surely fail.

The offer, according to the NDF, is a very shallow appreciation of the social problems in the Philippines and a waste of people’s time and money.

It added that this follows the “divide and rule” tactic and aims to break the unity of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NDF and NPA, which have been fighting the government for decades.

Duterte earlier called on rebels to settle down and live normal lives by laying down their arms and surrender to the government. In return, the government would provide them with housing units and livelihood incentives.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison, who is in exile in the Netherlands, has yet to issue an official statement on the latest government offer.

But the NDF, in a statement, reported that Davao City “Mayor Sara Duterte recently created a Davao City Peace Committee to negotiate with the local forces of the NPAs.” Similar efforts by the 8th Infantry Division were also done in Eastern Visayas.

It rejected the invitation for localized peace talks and reiterated its call for the resumption of the 5th round of negotiations to pursue discussions on the release of all political prisoners and the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER). 

To show goodwill, Duterte ordered last year the release of key NPA personalities, including couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon who would act as consultants to the peace talks held in Oslo, Norway.

Meanwhile, the government has put the NPA and its front organizations in Pampanga and Metro Manila under close monitoring as part of the overall security preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Major Gen. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said the NPAs are “out there looking for an opportunity to be able to commit inimical acts against the people and the state.”

He added that the group has been focusing its efforts on the kind of violence it would be doing.

“They will even forge a tactical alliance (with other threat groups) if necessary for as long as it is helpful to advance their own cause,” Padilla said.

World leaders are arriving in the country next week for the ASEAN summit, an event that would be primarily secured by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and supported by the AFP.

In Sorsogon province, members of the Gubat town police repulsed an NPA attack Friday evening.

Senior Supt. Marlon Tejada, the province’s police director, said the rebels have been trying to overrun police formations since September, prompting him to place all his units on high alert status.

Although no one was reported hurt in the incident, he noted several attacks done by the NPA since September, including the killing of PO2 Dennis Garbida, who was shot while defending an outpost in front of the Gubat public market in October, and torching of six motorcycles outside the camp of the 3rd Maneuver Company.

“They are active in Gubat because they can easily evade government troops running after them because of many exit points,” he added. – With Celso Amo