When peace talks fail

The Commission on Appointments’ denial in confirming cabinet members identified and recommended by the Left eventually led to further sever the ties and any hopes for peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, with alliances of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New Peoples Army.

And now it has opened its discontent, and their opposition to the current administartion’s policies that the Left must have held back for a year now out of caution as peace talk possibilities were taking place back then.

And now it appears that there’s no turning back, and unfortunately there’s no silver lining to be found as of now. The current administration is in for a tough future.

It was a great loss, Secretaries Judy Taguiwalo and Ka Paeng Mariano leaving Social Welfare and Agrarian Reform agencies, respectively, when we have finally found people woth genuine interest for the people and not serve the personal agenda of Congressmen with shady dealings in the government.

The reason, as the pro-administration camp would provide, is that despite the peace negotiations, the Left did not ceased operating in the hinterlands as their NPA counterparts continue to operate. The escalation grew when Mindanao was subjected to Martial Law.

And now, the president offered NPA guerillas to surrender and join the military, otherwise he will be forced to declare Martial Law nationwide. But knowing the president who changes statements, this will remain a vague statement and quite off to believe as a promise.

The president and this current administration are still enjoying and popularity among its constituents. This is something that this administration has taken advantage of. However, the opposition, especially that the Left is back to the fold, is relentless. Keep them ignored and shrugged off along with their propaganda it will likely grow and would disarm this administration’s popularity.

But the most concerning of all, if peace talks no longer an option, that means there will be more armed conflicts to come, resulting to more deaths. It is already disheartening that we see deaths as tools for political narratives. We forget, that first and foremost that these are lives of people - innocent people - we are talking about.

The failure of peace talks do not only reflect the failure of one side to compromise. It is a failure of a system for all parties involved, and most affected of this failure are the people whom they wish to serve. *** Nefluczon@gmail.com