Paduano: Localized peace talks first before martial law

ABANG Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano offers a localized peace talks between the government and the New People’s Army rebels before deciding on declaring Martial Law in Negros Oriental.

The Martial Law declaration is looming amid the series of killings in Negros Oriental.

President Rodrigo Duterte said drastic action will be imposed against those responsible for the killings especially those who ambushed and killed the four PNP Intelligence Officers in Ayungon town.

“I’m appealing to my fellow Negrenses, especially the rebels that we should talk peace. If we cannot talk peace nationwide because of your leaders who have been based in Netherlands, we will talk locally”, Paduano former commander of Revolutionary Proletarian Army- Lex Bongcayao Brigade ( RPA- ABB) said.

Paduano said, the people in the hinterlands are always those who are caught in between, that’s why it is very important to talk peace.

Paduano also revealed that most of the congressmen in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental have already signed a resolution introduced by Negros Oriental First District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong calling for an investigation into the killings in Negros Oriental.

He said that they are also trying to ask the congressmen in Cebu to also support the said resolution.

Paduano said that he will back whatever will be the decision of the majority of the Negros congressmen on the proposal to declare martial law in Negros Oriental.

He also believes that Negros Occidental will also be included in case martial law is declared in Negros Oriental because we belong to one island divided only by boundaries.*