AFP backs termination of peace talks with Reds

he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) backed yesterday the stand of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to recommend the termination of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Colonel Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City that the military fully supports the position of the DND to terminate the talks.

“We, the AFP, is part of the Department of National Defense, may recommend to the President to terminate the peace talks with the CPP-NDF led by Jose Maria ‘Joma’ Sison,” Arevalo said. “We advanced this position because of the eight reasons as already released to you by the Secretary of National Defense (Delfin Lorenzana).”

Arevalo said despite them supporting calls not to continue the peace talks with the Reds, it does not mean that they are against peace.

“It doesnt mean we’re against peace talks. What we want is a peace process that is transparent, genuine, and sincere. (A) peace talk that embodies the desire of our people to put an end to all this fighting so that peace and progress can come in,” he said.

“We had discovered from recovered documents and statements of surrendering CPP-NPA members the duplicity of Mr. Sison and his ilk,” Arevalo said in broken English. “The peace talks espoused by Mr. Sison and his coterie which is only a ploy for their cadres and militias to do the 4Rs: Regroup, Refurbish, Recruit and Recover lost grounds.”

As previously stated, Arevalo said what the AFP supports is the localized peace talks through local government units (LGUs) because they know best what is happening within their community.

Last Monday, Lorenzana released a paper detailing the reasons why they will recommend the termination of the peace talks with the communist rebels.

In a piece, titled “The Public Should Know,” Lorenzana cited eight reasons why there is a need to stop the peace negotiations with the Reds.

One of these reasons is that during the last unilateral ceasefire covering the period 2016 until January 2017, the CPPNPA-NDF has crafted a three-year plan to advance the revolutionary movement and an “oust Duterte campaign.”

Lorenzana also said the CPP-NDFNPA can’t comply with the four preconditions of the Chief Executive so they can go back to the Negotiating Table. These are considered by the President as sign of sincerity: a. No coalition government; b. No arson/attacks, no revolutionary tax/extortion;

c. NPA to stay in a safe areas of their choice; and d. No recruitment/mass mobilization.