Malacañang hopeful on resumption of peace talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang expressed optimism yesterday over the resumption of peace talks with communist insurgents this month.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, said the government is turning down the demand of the communist rebels to stop civic-military operations (CMO).

Seeking to stop the civic-military work is “propaganda” on the part of the communist rebels, Lacierda said.

He said the CMO is President Aquino’s new tack against the communist rebels.

Under the plan, troops will be shifted from combat operations to civilian-military work, such as building roads, schools, clinics and potable water systems in conflict areas across the country.

“We will continue to do what is best for our country. The CMO will continue,” Lacierda said. The National Democratic Front (NDF), representing the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the peace talks, demanded that the government should stop the CMO.

The rebels claimed the CMO is a tactic used by the military to raid their ranks. 

“The resumption of the peace talks scheduled this February is an opportunity to finally put an end to the conflict that has stunted the country’s development for so long, especially in areas where unrest has caused poverty and death to so many of our people,” Lacierda said. Lacierda stressed talks with the communist rebels as well as with the Moro secessionists are crucial.

He said this development “formally breaks the impasse” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “and resumes the talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF that have been stalled since 2005.”

“It is also within the frame of a lasting peace anchored on dialogue and goodwill that the multi-sectoral and multi-agency peace constituency-building project is envisioned,” Lacierda said.