My ‘friend' Luis Jalandoni
(This is from the column, “The Living Spirit,” by Arnold Van Vugt of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)
In an interview with a reporter of Inquirer, Luis Jalandoni of the National Democratic Front (NDF) said that President Noynoy Aquino has become an "obstacle" to the resumption of the peace talks with the communist rebels, accusing him of using the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) issues as an excuse to stall negotiations.
He told reporters: "The Aquino Administration could only handle one peace talk at a time. A leader should not just concentrate on one problem. He must have the capacity to face different issues."
The problem with Jalandoni is that he is still obsessed with the Marxist ideology of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPPNPA), like his companion Joma Sison is. Armed struggle is a protracted struggle until it reaches the dictatorship of the proletariat. That is a big illusion.
Jalandoni used to be a good friend of mine. He is also an ex-priest like me. During the martial law years, he was assigned by the Party to set up the NDF in the Netherlands. I was even instrumental for Jalandoni to go to Holland, which is my native country, in 1976.
Since that time, peace negotiations have been conducted in Norway and peace agreements have been signed with the Philippine government, but these agreements have been violated time and again. Many innocent people have been caught in the crossfire between the rebels and the military.
I sympathized with the armed struggle of the NPA during the martial law years. I thought we only can get rid of Ferdinand Marcos through armed struggle. But after Marcos was ousted, there was no need any more for armed struggle. The Marcos dictatorship has been abolished and we have now a democracy with a Senate and parliament. There is no need any more for armed struggle neither to go to Norway for peace negotiations.
In the meantime, Jalandoni has acquired Dutch citizenship and he is enjoying all the benefits of a welfare state that is Holland, the same as Joma Sison and his wife who got political asylum there.
When I hear Jalandoni say that President Aquino is an obstacle to the peace negotiations, I get furious. Aquino is still the best president we had since the ouster of Marcos. At least, he is serious in fighting the corruption of our congressmen and senators.
I believe that Jalandoni should come back to his native country and continue the peace negotiations here in the Philippines at the local level. Jalandoni must see for himself what has happened here in the Philippines. There in Holland, he is out of touch with the reality here. He and Sison have still to answer for the crimes that have been committed by the NPA.
In the Antongalon massacre, 48 activists were killed by the NPA under suspicion of being infiltrators. They included the husband of my present wife. That is why I decided to leave the priesthood, marry her and adopt her six young children. Never in my life would I have thought to do that.
I believe the rebels in the mountains are themselves tired of the armed struggle and would like to lay down their arms but they are prevented to do so by their leaders. Recently, some rebel returnees surrendered their arms and the Oplan Bayanihan of the military accommodated them and helped them to return as citizens in our society.
Some rebel returnees are still in prison here in Cagayan de Oro. I believe they should be released and allowed to return to their families. They can participate also in our parliamentary struggle to improve the living conditions of the Filipino people.
It is high time that we stop the war here in Mindanao. Too many innocent people are victims of the war both with the NPA, the BBL/MILF and the military. Let there be peace on earth!