ABB to purse peace talks with gov't despite bombings

Left-wing leader Nilo de la Cruz said yesterday their recent bombing of oil depots and the Department of Energy building in Taguig should not affect peace efforts between the government and the communist groups.

De la Cruz is the chief negotiator for the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa (RPM), Revolutionary Proletariat Army (RPA) and the communist urban hit squad Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB), which owned up to last week's bombing.

In a press conference, De la Cruz also hit at Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison and Teodoro Casiño of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) for issuing "malicious statements" linking RPM-RPA-ABB activities to an alleged plan by the government to create an "emergency scenario" in Luzon.

He said the RPM-RPA-ABB has not violated any rules because the formal talks have not started and no agreements have been forged yet.

"The government's statements in reaction to the politico-military operations of the RPA-ABB are not in any way helping in strengthening confidence of the peace process it has opened for RPM-RPA-ABB," De la Cruz said.

"It should be cleared that the RPA-ABB's operations were in response to the widespread sentiments of the people on the perpetual oil price increases," he said.

Following the bombing and strafing of the government office and oil depots last week, Malacañang had reportedly called on the RPA-ABB to stop its terrorist activities saying these may jeopardize peace efforts and will not lower fuel prices.

De la Cruz said the RPA-ABB, "as a revolutionary army," was merely protecting the welfare of the working class and the oppressed masses severely hit by the series of fuel price hikes.

"Hence, the recent operations launched by the RPA-ABB should not be connected and worst, be considered as detrimental to the peace process. Surely, such amplification of the people's sentiments is not terrorism," he said.

He also lashed at Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui for "doing nothing to alleviate the plight of the people and protecting the interest of oil companies despite being paid taxpayers' money."

He said Sison, who is now in exile in the Netherlands, should be exposed as the "real terrorist" for ordering the killing of soldiers and innocent civilians.

"That is terrorism. These actions (killings) do not represent the sentiment of the people and only create orphans and widows," De la Cruz said.

He said the RPM-RPA-ABB reiterate their commitment and desire for the success of the peace process as long as it will benefit the working class and the masses.