Why would government talk to the reds again?
Is this a sign of weakness or capitulation, an implied admission that the Reds are gaining headway in their armed struggle? Is this due to any pressure from China or push from Russia? Just asking.
The records indubitably show that this column seldom disagrees with the president on national issues of great public interest. I agree with his policy and war against drugs and I support it wholeheartedly. I support the movement for the federalization of our government. I concur that there is a need to amend the Philippine Constitution. I applaud the president’ advocacy to clean up the environment, including the temporary closure of Boracay, the current drive to clean up Manila Bay, and perhaps to extend this advocacy to also close Panglao, Palawan, and even our own Mactan, Badian, Moalboal, and other destinations temporarily until they are clean again. I support the firing of corrupt and incompetent public officials. I am happy with the diatribes against COA.
But I disagree with the latest move to negotiate (again) for peace with the CPP-NPA-NDF for the nth time. The people who really know the ideology of the socialists and the communists would readily say that the reds do not really want peace. It is by armed struggle that they gain power. Their ultimate purpose and mission is to overthrow the Philippine government and take over power under a regime of totalitarian dictatorship of the so-called working class. Actually the power resides not in the working class or the proletariat but in the junta or the inner circle of self-appointed wise men whose ideology and basic principles of ruling are based on foreign core beliefs and values that are totally alien to the soul and character of Filipinos.
Jose Maria Sison was in prison when President Corazon Aquino, with the aid and support of the Church and the USA, snatched power from President Ferdinand Marcos. Sison was a friend and detention mate of Ninoy, just like Bernabe Buscayno, a.k.a. “Kumander Dante.” Both Dante and Sison were released by President Cory, allegedly to fulfill Ninoy’s wish and request prior to his tragic August 21, 1983 trip back to the Philippines. That was, to the mind of this writer, a historic blunder on the part of President Cory. In no time thereafter, Sison went on exile to the Netherlands, eating steak complete with expensive wine and caviar, while the ragtag forces of the NPA are starving in the jungles of Samar and Sierra Madre. But the NPA kept on attacking our soldiers and communities that are friendly to government forces. For the past 50 years thousands have died in both sides.
The many talks held in Oslo and in other parts of Europe were very expensive to the Philippine government. We kept on sending Secretary Jesus Dureza and Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and big entourages, to talk to Sison, Fr. Luis Jalandoni, Fidel Agcaoili, and even such people as Satur Ocampo and other underlings of Joma. What has been accomplished? Nothing, absolutely nothing. On the contrary, the CPP-NPA gained time to regroup and strengthen their forces on the ground. They were even able to make “bola” to the president to appoint such leftist people as Judy Taguiwalo to the DSWD, Rafael Mariano to Agrarian Reform, and Joel Maglungsod to the DOLE. What did the government get in return? Nothing.
Joma Sison had insulted the president not just once but many times. Joma arrogantly looks down on President Digong as one of his less brilliant students. Joma looks down on our chief executive with sneer, sarcasm, and condescension. And so, why talk again? There were already big words like all-out war, and so what gives now? Is this an implied admission that the government is now afraid of the reds? Just asking.
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