MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines wants the government to end the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NDFP).
It is “duty-bound” to support Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s call for the termination of the peace talks, AFP spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo told a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.
“We, the AFP, (as) part of the Department of National Defense, will recommend to the President (Rodrigo Duterte) 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 already released to you by the Secretary of National Defense,” he added.
In a statement released Sunday night Lorenzana said his department has uncovered the rebels’ plan to oust President Rodrigo Duterte and use the ceasefire to recover their lost grounds and influence, among others, and thus recommends the termination of the peace talks.
Based on their “deliberate actions … it is obvious that they are not sincere to talk peace and end the armed conflict,” said Lorenzana. “They are employing the revolutionary dual tactics to show semblance of peace but continually conducting violence and terror acts on the ground.”
Arevalo clarified that their expression of support for Lorenzana’s call does not mean the AFP is against peace negotiations. He stressed they are supportive of a peace process that is transparent, genuine and sincere.
He said they favor 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.”
Arevalo also chided Sison for pushing for the peace negotiations to enable the rebels to do the “4Rs,” which the military defines as “regroup, refurbish, recruit, and recover lost grounds.”
“Nabanggit na from recovered documents and statements ng mga sumuko sa atin ang duplicity ni Mr. Sison and his ilk. The peace talks espoused by Mr. Sison and his coterie [are] only a ploy for their cadres and militias to do the 4Rs,” Arevalo said.
According to the AFP spokesman, the rebels hatched plans to oust Duterte “while the government negotiating panel was in Norway.”
“These communist terrorists do not only engage us [in] double-talk. They actually want to double-cross us,” said Arevalo.
He added: “We want peace in the strict sense of the word, and if ever peace negotiations will be held, this is to clarify our position: we support localized peace talks where local government deals directly with these communist terrorists and their members with the assistance of the AFP and other agencies of government.” (PNA)
