Don’t underestimate Duterte, Defense chief warns Joma
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday warned Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman JomaSison that he can’t force President Duterte to go back to the negotiating table through an all-out offensive against the government.
“Mr. Sison is acting like a spoiled brat, which he is, and proves that he is very out of touch with reality here. Instead of rationally talking with our panel to discuss how to move forward the resumption of the peace talks, he goes into tantrum and orders the NPA (New People’s Army) to wage a people’s war,” said Lorenzana.
“So you think you can force the government to the peace table by waging war? Don’t underestimate President Duterte,” he added.
Lorenzana was reacting to
the statement of Sison who was quoted saying that the suspension of the resumption of peace talks would leave them with the no choice but to wage a “people’s war for national and social liberation.”
Sison had accused the Duterte administration of unilaterally suspending the peace negotiations that was supposed to be scheduled in the last week of June.
Lorenzana said it is easy for Sison to call for intensified attacks since he is living in comfort in the Netherlands, where he had sought political asylum.
The Defense chief was referring to the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, which is at the forefront of communist insurgency in the Philippines for almost five decades now.
The military said the NPA’s strength is dwindling, with the latest estimate at 4,000 fighters.
“Your so-called army no longer listens to you. They are sick and tired of your lies and rhetoric, and are in fact heeding the call of President Duterte to come down and live peaceful lives and they are doing just that. They have been surrendering in droves since November last year,” said Lorenzana.
“His ego is robbing many of Filipinos, whom he has misled all these years, of what could be their best chance ever to rejoin their families and live productive lives,” he added.
521 flee conflict
In Agusan del Norte, a total of 126 families or 521 individuals fled their homes and farmlands due to an armed conflict between the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29th IB) and NPA terrorists in the hinterland of Zapanta Valley, Barangay Bangayan, Kitcharao town.
In a report to Director Rodolfo of the Disaster Response and Management Bureau (DRMB) on Friday, Regional Director MitaChuchiGupana Lim, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Caraga Region 13), said the villagers have sought refuge in the Bangayan Covered Court, Barangay Bangayan.
Lim said classes at the Zapanta Valley Elementary School were also temporarily transferred to the HV Dagani Elementary School in ensure the safety and security of students.
“The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Kitcharao, with the DSWD 13 Field Regional Office, already distributed food items and other immediate needs to the affected residents being sheltered at the Bangayan Covered Court,” Lim said.
The residents were fleeing skirmishes between the 29th IB and the NPA in Zapanta Valley that started last June 10. (With a report from Mike U. Crismundo)