Deplorable

IT’S obvious that the New People’s Army (NPA) does not want peace.

To burn road-building equipment in one day, just as a show of force and power, is not the best way to win over civilians to their side.

Gone are the days when the communists try to win over civilians to their side by hyping up propaganda about the exploited and downtrodden. The almost five decades of trying to make believe that they are already nearing the strategic offensive stage apparently has made them lose hold of reality: the reality that people are in dire need of mobility in order to sustain a living and rear a family above the poverty line.

As reported by Sun.Star Davao yesterday, suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members burned four dumptrucks and one backhoe owned by the Leonard Trucking Services at Purok 4, sitio Saudan and Purok 14, sitio Quarry in barangay Callawa, Buhangin District; one bulldozer and a backhoe at sitio Sta. Maria in barangay Fatima, Paquibato District, and one backhoe at purok 8 in barangay Dalagdag in Calinan District, all in the hinterland areas in Davao City.

All heavy equipment burned were being used at the ongoing construction of the bypass road connecting Callawa, Paquibato, and Calinan designed to decongest traffic on the highway and allow access to otherwise remote villages.

The opening of the bypass road in Ulas just recently has made Dabawenyos experience how it is to be freed from that decade-old traffic jam at the Ulas Junction, which has made travel from Mintal to downtown on any normal day reach up to two long hours. There’s relief, there’s less stress and aggravation, and there’s greater productivity. The NPA wouldn’t have that, and so they just lost some more.

There is indeed wisdom in not pushing on with the peace talks considering that there is not even a token act of reaching out for peace -- just plain aggression, with apparent glee. Condemnable. Deplorable.