Security for Reds scrapped as gov’t returns to war mode

THE government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) on Tuesday canceled the security guarantees for communists taking part in the peace talks, thereby signaling further a return to conflict in the almost five decade-long communist insurgency.

“Following the President’s announcement of the cancellation of the peace talks with the CPP/ NPA/ NDF and per his instructions, the Government is hereby serving this notice of the termination of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Please be guided accordingly,” went the brief letter, dated Tuesday, by Peace Process Adviser Jesus G. Dureza to Jose Maria Sison, chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front, and Fidel V. Agcaoili, NDF panel chairperson.

The NDF is the political umbrella organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines ( CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA).

The termination of the JASIG came after an angry President Rodrigo R. Duterte called for the cancellation of the talks over the weekend, following reports of encounters on the ground even amid an ongoing cease-fire, which both parties had set aside at length.

Under the JASIG, a duly-accredited NDF consultant is exempted from passport cancellation and shall be deemed immune from arrest, search or any punitive action within a period of 30 days upon return to the Philippines, or 30 days from the formal termination of the Joint Agreement, whichever comes later.

Despite his letter, Mr. Dureza in a separate statement said: “the Duterte administration remains committed in its peace efforts by continuing with resolve to explore all opportunities to intensify implementation of genuine reforms for the benefit of the people, particularly socioeconomic programs in conflictaffected communities.”

“It shall also continue to pursue other paths to peace and undertake all forms of peace initiatives and peace-building efforts at the na---

tional, regional and local levels to keep the peace,” he added.

Responding via private message on social media, Mr. Agcaoili said they “intend to acknowledge” Mr. Dureza’s letter that Tuesday “to enable the 30 day grace period to run.”

“It is actually an odd notice since it only terminates the JASIG and not the peace negotiations but has the same effect. It is not like the written notice of termination sent by President Estrada before. But Dureza’s notice will do in effectively terminating the peace negotiations. This is not the first time that an all out war has been declared against the revolutionary forces. President Cory Aquino did it in 1987 after the Mendiola massacre. Estrada too after signing the VFA. We are used to [these] threats.” Mr. Agcaoili also said in part.

But Mr. Dureza, sought for comment, said via text, “The notice of termination is dated today,” adding the NDF “is entitled to its position” regarding JASIG.

‘NO DIFFERENCE’ BETWEEN NPA AND ABU SAYYAF

For his part, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday that the government will wage an “all-out war” on the NPA.

“Yes, it is an all-out war kasi ( because) they are considered by the President already as terrorists. We also consider them as terrorists,” Mr. Lorenzana said, adding that the offensive will be limited to NPA’s “armed component” only.

Mr. Lorenzana also said the NPA is a “threat” to national security and has “no difference at all” with the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

“The Abu Sayyaf kidnap people and then they get money. The NPA will threaten those businessmen and also get money. There’s no difference at all. They are there to terrorize people, to giving them money, that’s extortion. So we will hunt them down and maybe stop them from doing what they are doing,” the Defense chief said.

The government estimates the rebels at about 4,000 fighters, from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s when Washington was keenly monitoring the communist insurgency, according to several books on the Marcos dictatorship.

According to Mr. Lorenzana, the NPA has a 5,000 “armed component all over the country.”

LOOK OUT

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DoJ) is set to issue a lookout bulletin order (LBO) against NDF members and consultants

“What we did ngayon, lahat ng members, consultants na nagkaroon ng bail because of peace process, maglalabas kami this afternoon ng LBO ( What we did now, all members, consultants who were allowed to post bail because of peace process, we will release a look-out bulletin order this afternoon),” Mr. Aguirre said in an ambush interview with reporters yesterday

The LBO will alert the government of the itineraries or whereabouts of the listed personalities from the Left who have taken part in the peace process.

The DoJ as of this reporting has yet to show the said order to the media.

This came following Mr. Duterte’s remarks on Sunday that he was terminating the peace talks and also warning rebel negotiators that they would return to the country “on their own volition and go back to prison.”

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the arrest of NDF consultants Wilma Tiamzon, Benito Tiamzon, Vic Ladlad, Edelberto Silva, Alfonso Jasmines, Alfredo Mapano, Loida Magpatoc, Pedro Codaste, Ruben Saluta, Ernesto Lorenzo, Porferio Tuna, Renante Gamara, and Tirso Alcantara.

Also on Monday, members of Task Force Davao collared Ariel Arbitrario, NDF consultant on constitutional and political reforms, and his companions Roderick Mamuyac and Rosario Sinday at a checkpoint in the boundary of Davao City and Davao del Sur province. — with