Shoot on sight

The military clarified yesterday that there is no formal order from President Duterte to shoot on sight any armed communist rebel. But with the President’s public pronouncements, and with 15 suspected New People’s Army members slain by government forces in a clash last Tuesday, it looks like the government is intensifying its campaign against the rebels, now described as terrorists.

In line with this, a presidential decree has been issued, which also terminated the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front. An executive order is expected to formalize the decree. In response, the CPP-NDF also ordered intensified attacks on government targets while at the same time leaving the door open for the resumption of peace negotiations.

The scrapping of the peace talks must be accompanied not only by heightened vigilance and operations by government forces against the NPA, but also by greater efforts to address the causes of the insurgency. People from marginalized sectors, professionals and university students continue to be drawn to the communist movement because of social injustices.

Economic empowerment and inclusive growth reduce the appeal of armed struggle. Development efforts that reduce poverty and promote inclusion must be intensified especially in rural areas. For more specific grievances, local government officials can reach out to groups identified with the CPPNDF to discuss enduring peace. President Duterte’s daughter Sara is doing this in their home city of Davao, where she is mayor.

At the same time, the government must heighten security for private citizens and enterprises that are favorite targets of the NPA for extorting “revolutionary taxes.” NPA banditry has been driving away investments and jobs, and aggravating the inadequacy of telecommunications services through frequent armed attacks on transmission towers.

Peace talks with the communists have broken down many times in the past. Whether the latest collapse will be short-lived or will last for the remainder of the Duterte administration, the government must not waste any moment in dealing with the insurgency at its roots. The President himself is aware that a military solution is never enough.