Reds ready for truce, want to restart talks

MANILA, Philippines -  The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) yesterday ordered its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) to release the six soldiers and policemen they are holding captive, and called for a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the government.

In a statement yesterday, the CPP said the release of the six “prisoners of war” is their “positive gesture” to continue peace negotiations with the government.

This came days after the peace talks folded as the NPA lifted its unilateral ceasefire. President Duterte responded by terminating the ceasefire and peace talks.

The CPP ordered the release of Pfc. Edwin Salan who was captured in Alegria, Surigao del Norte on Jan. 29; Sgt. Solaiman Calucop and Pfc. Samuel Garay who were captured in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on Feb. 2; PO2 Jerome Natividad captured in Talakag, Bukidnon on Feb. 9; and paramilitary Rene Doller and Carl Mark who were captured in Lupon, Davao Oriental on Feb. 14.

The CPP said “the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can cooperate by withdrawing all troops in and around the areas where the prisoners of war will be released to pave the way for their safe and orderly release.”

If the AFP will cooperate, all six captives can return to their families before or during the scheduled peace negotiations in the Netherlands next week, the CPP added.

The CPP also ordered the NPA commands in charge of the custodial units “to work closely with third party facilitators.”

The CPP said that if Duterte is really “obsessed with peace” as the government peace panel said, “he can heed the people’s clamor and reverse his earlier pronouncements terminating peace negotiations.”

“The CPP earnestly encourages him to do so. He would surely not want to set aside the achievements attained during the first three rounds of the peace talks and waste the opportunity to leave a legacy of peace,” the group added.

The bilateral ceasefire agreement has been an issue in the peace negotiations as Duterte has refused to give in to the call of the CPP-NPA to release 400 political detainees unless the communist group signs a document signifying ceasefire. 

The peace negotiations folded just a week after the third round of formal talks was concluded in Rome, Italy. The third round ended without any agreement on a bilateral ceasefire.  

The CPP-NPA said yesterday that should Duterte decide to send the government negotiating panel and emissaries to the scheduled peace talks, negotiations for a bilateral ceasefire agreement can proceed as scheduled on Feb. 22 to 27 in the Netherlands. 

And to ensure success of the negotiations, the National Democratic Front (NDF)-CPP said, the government panel can help facilitate the travel of the NDF’s ceasefire committee members and consultants.

“The Party and the NPA reiterate their support for efforts to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement. The revolutionary forces are encouraged by the previous statements of President Duterte that all political prisoners will be released within 48 hours once the bilateral ceasefire agreement is signed,” the NDF-CPP-NPA said.

“We anticipate that negotiations concerning the terms of reference of a bilateral ceasefire agreement will be most difficult. The revolutionary forces are bound by principle to assert the withdrawal of the AFP’s operating troops from areas under the sway of the revolutionary government.” 

“However difficult, the revolutionary forces are willing to work with government negotiators to hammer out a bilateral ceasefire agreement that will be mutually acceptable and enforceable,” they added.

Troops clash anew with NPA

But last Saturday, troops from the 53rd Infantry Battalion clashed with NPA rebels in Zamboanga del Sur.

Police said fighting erupted when troops from the 53^rd Infantry Battalion encountered the NPA members shortly before noon at Barangay Gasa, Lakewood town.

A platoon of soldiers engaged the NPA rebels under the Samahang Yunit Propaganda of Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SYP-WMRPC) for about 10 minutes at Sitio Lanayan, according to Supt. Rogelio Alabata, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9.

Alabata said the rebels were forced to retreat after one of its members was killed in the encounter. The troops recovered the slain rebel, who was not immediately indentified but was tagged as member of the SYP-WMRPC.