CPP wants truce, peace talks
DAVAO CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) reiterated yesterday its call on President Duterte to reverse his previous order calling off peace talks with the communist insurgents, and expressed willingness to return to the negotiation table on February 22 to discuss a bilateral ceasefire between the two parties.
In a statement, it said “(the CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) reiterate their support
for efforts to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement.”
“The revolutionary forces are encouraged by the previous statements of President Duterte that all political prisoners will be released within 48 hours once the bilateral ceasefire agreement is signed,” the CPP added
The Philippine Government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the CPP-NPA’s political arm, were supposed to meet on February 22 to 27 in Utrecht, Netherlands to discuss the proposal for a bilateral ceasefire that was formally submitted by the government to the communist side in the last round of talks in Rome, Italy last January 25.
The two parties were also supposed to oversee the deposit of the list of NDFCPP-NPA consultants, who are participating in the talks and are protected by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), in a safety deposit box.
The fourth round of formal talks was also set on April 2 in Oslo, Norway.
The communists added that the GRP can help facilitate the travel of the NDF’s ceasefire committee members and consultants to ensure success of the negotiations in Utrecht, which is only two days away. NPA may release 6 ‘prisoners of war’ As a gesture of goodwill, the CPP called on the NPA to expedite the release of the six prisoners of war (POWs) who were captured in different parts of Mindanao ever since the communist group abruptly cancelled its unilateral ceasefire.
Those in NPA custody are PFC Edwin Salan, who was captured in Alegria, Surigao del Norte on January 29; Sgt. Solaiman Calucop and Pfc Samuel Garay, captured in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on February 2; PO2 Jerome Natividad, captured in Talakag, Bukidnon on February 9; and alleged “paramilitary” members Rene Doller and Carl Mark, both captured in Lupon, Davao Oriental on February 14.
“The NPA commands in charge of the custodial units can work closely with third party facilitators. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can cooperate by withdrawing all troops in and around the area where the POWs will be released to pave the way for their safe and orderly release,” it added.
The POWs can be allowed to return to their families before or during the scheduled GRP-NDFP peace talks in The Netherlands, the CPP added.
Terms of reference The leftist group also said it was anticipating that the talks on the “terms of reference” of a bilateral ceasefire document will be difficult, but pledged to work with GRP negotiators to forge a bilateral document “that will be mutually acceptable and enforceable.”
“The revolutionary forces are bound by principle to assert the withdrawal of the AFP’s operating troops from areas under the sway of the revolutionary government,” it said.
Top officials favor talks President Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and GRP Peace Panel Chairman Silvestre Bello III welcomed the CPP position as both hoped that this would be the “compelling reason” that President Duterte had cited as the only reason why he will turn back on his order to call off the talks.
“We share the same commitment to work for just and lasting peace in the land,” said Dureza.
“It is now up to the President, whatever he orders, we will follow,” said Bello, who added that setting the February 22 meeting in Utrecht was “still very feasible.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said the military was not totally closing its door on peace negotiations with communist rebels.
In an interview during the media fellowship night at the Pine Breeze Hotel in Baguio City Saturday night, Año said the 125,000-strong military force was very supportive of the peace process, but nevertheless maintained that they will not allow communist NPA guerrillas from conducting atrocities and hamper the lives of people in various communities around the country.
“The Armed Forces, more than anyone else, it is the soldiers who want the peace talks to succeed,” Año told reporters. “But we will not allow the CPPNPA to conduct atrocities and similar activities and imperil the lives of the ordinary people in the community.”
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said that he is one in favor of peace negotiations getting back on track.
“Well, I, myself, am in favor of resuming the peace talks. You know who, where I came from. I was in OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) before. I was a combatant and the first people who would want this are the combatants,” Esperson said.
“I was also a frontline officer from the time I was a lieutenant until I was a battalion commander in Agusan and Brigade commander in Jolo, Zamboanga, Cotabato, and Basilan. So who doesn’t want peace especially if you see your own men part of the casualties? My life was also put in danger many times,” he said.
However, Esperson said that peace will not be attained “if the other group is doing war.”
“While we are doing war, we cannot attain (or) have a modicum of progress in the area,” Esperson said.
NDF consultant’s motion
As this developed, Rafael Baylosis, one of the NDF consultants who were ordered freed by the government but is now being sought for recommitment to jail, filed a motion with the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to defer the resolution on the government’s motion seeking their rearrest.
In a manifestation filed on February 14, Baylosis, through his legal counsel, asked the Manila RTC Branch 32 to defer ruling on the motion of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to revoke the bail granted to him.
Baylosis asked the court to defer the resolution on the motion “so as not to render moot and academic the efforts toward the resumption of the peace negotiations.” (With reports from Yas D. Ocampo and Cris Odronia)