Resume peace talks, Rody urged

Some 103 members of the House of Representatives urged President Duterte yesterday to resume the peace talks of the government with the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA).

The call is contained in Resolution 769, which was initiated by the leftist Makabayan bloc of seven party-list representatives led by Bayan Muna.

Duterte terminated the peace talks after the NPA lifted its unilateral ceasefire, which prompted a similar action on the part of the government.

The President has since called the NDF, CPP and NPA terrorist organizations and has ordered the arrest of their peace negotiators.

The government has also canceled the safe conduct passes of the communist groups’ negotiators.

The police and the military have vowed to hunt them down if they hide, while the Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout bulletin to prevent them from leaving the country.

In their resolution, the House members said peace talks have already achieved “unprecedented and significant advances” when they were scuttled.

“It should be emphasized, as compared to previous administrations, that the peace negotiations under the Duterte government have reached remarkable and unparalleled headway,” they said.

“Terminating the same would only put to waste the unprecedented, positive and substantial gains the peace talks have reached. In fact, it is expected in the fourth round of talks that major points will be agreed upon that will lead to the signing of a comprehensive agreement on socioeconomic reforms,” they said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said the fact that 103 members signed the resolution “shows the strong sentiment in the House for the resumption of peace talks.”

He said he and his six other Makabayan colleagues are still seeking the support of other members.

Among the signatories to Resolution 769 are deputy speakers Eric Singson and Ferdinand Hernandez, and Reps. Edcel Lagman and Joey Salceda of Albay, Maximo Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Raul del Mar of Cebu City and Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela.

Albano said the government and NDFCPP-NPA should remain on the path to peace “for the sake of our people, particularly those in conflict-affected areas.”

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo supported the call for the resumption of the peace talks.

He said the two sides should surmount “unfortunate challenges and stumbling blocks to a very difficult peace process” like the lifting of the ceasefire.

VP for peace talks

Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday urged the government and communist rebels to pursue the peace negotiations despite the cancellation of the ceasefire and lifting of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

“I am saddened by the recent development because this is a major setback. One of the things which I think the government was doing right was to pursue peace talks,” Robredo said in a press briefing at her office in Quezon City.

The Vice President expressed hopes that the cancellation of the JASIG would not eventually lead to a complete termination of the peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.

“I hope they will continue the peace talks… To the question whether the cancellation amounts to the end of peace negotiations, I hope not,” she said.

The members of the government peace panel yesterday expressed support for Duterte’s decision to end the peace talks NDF.

“The President made his decision, and the panel is behind him in his decision,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is also the chairman of the government peace panel.

Bello said it would really depend to the President whether the peace talks would resume or not.

The arrest of NDF consultants in the peace talks is a priority of PNP.

Director Roel Obusan, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said President Duterte had ordered the arrest of communist leaders with pending criminal cases who were earlier released so they could join the peace talks.

“If it’s a priority, our efforts will be concentrated on that one,” Obusan said.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the consultants to be arrested include couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Vic Ladlad, Afelberto Silva, Alfonso Jazmines, Alfredo Mapano, Loida Magpatoc, Pedro Cudaste, Ruben Salota, Ernesto Lorenzo, Porferio Tuna, Renante Gamara and Tirso Alcantara.

The NDF said all 17 consultants released from detention last August are back in the Philippines after attending the peace talks in Norway.

Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, Negros Island Region police director, said CIDG agents arrested on Tuesday night Rogina

Navarro Quilop, secretary of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Negros.

Quilop has a standing warrant after she was charged with murder. She claimed that she is innocent.

She admitted being administrative officer of the Center for People’s Resources and Services that extends help to disaster victims in Negros Occidental.

Gabriela-Negros chair Clariza Singson described the arrest of Quilop as part of the continuing harassment of development workers and progressive leaders of people’s organization.

Police arrested yesterday morning a female activist and two others in Barangay Pacdal in Baguio City.

Sarah Abellon- Alikes, daughter of the late Anglican Bishop Richard Abellon Sr., was reportedly accosted with two other still unidentified male companions by intelligence agents and brought to the Baguio City police station 3.

The human rights group Cordillera Human Rights Alliance said this was illegal since there is no pending arrest warrant against Alikes, who is a board member of the non-government organization Regional Development Center-Katinnulong Dagiti Umili ti Amianan.

No charges have so far been filed against them.

Baguio City police director Sr. Supt. Ramil Saculles confirmed the arrest of the three but could not give details yet while their case conference on the arrest of the trio is still ongoing.

On Wednesday, policemen also arrested alleged NPA rebel Jacinto Faroden in Sagada, Mountain Province.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas ( Pamalakaya) said the scrapping of the ceasefire should not hamper the peace process.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap expressed disappointment over President Duterte’s arbitrary decision to end the ongoing peace negotiation with the NDF.

“We are dismayed by President Duterte’s hasty and impetuous decision to end the peace talks that the Filipino people have worked hard for. Instead of resolving poverty and injustice that fuel the civil war in the country, President Duterte only wants the people to capitulate from their just defiance. He obviously lacks deep understanding on the dynamics of the root cause and foundation of the decades- old struggle of the Filipino people,” Hicap said.