MALACAÑANG appealed Wednesday to the communist rebels to refrain from launching hostile acts and instead join the government in bringing forth peace in the country as President Rodrigo Duterte plans to extend martial law in Mindanao until year end.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing New People's Army (NPA), and political wing National Democratic Front (NDF), should reciprocate the current administrations' "gestures of goodwill."
He called on the group to support Duterte's proposal to extend martial law in war-torn Mindanao for another five months, in order to stamp out terrorism and violent extremism in the south.
"To show that the CPP/NPA/NDF is truly in pursuit of peaceful coexistence, they must stand against a common enemy of martial law extension," Abella said in a statement.
"The Duterte administration has shown in numerous occasions its strong commitment to bring peace. It is time for the CPP/NPA/NDF to reciprocate the government's gestures of goodwill by ending their extortion and criminal activities, and redirecting their energy to help eradicate terrorism and violent extremism in Mindanao," he added.
Abella's statement came after the CPP ordered the NPA to launch attacks nationwide in response to the proposed martial law extension in Mindanao.
On May 23, Duterte issued Proclamation 216 declaring martial law and suspending the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao in a bid to quell rebellion of Maute terror group who attacked Marawi City.
A week before the validity of 60-day martial rule in the south ends, Duterte sent a letter to Congress, expressing his intent to extend his proclamation as he admitted that the armed conflict in Marawi City would not end on July 22.
The President asked lawmakers to approve the proposed five-month extension in a bid to "completely and totally addressed" the insurgency in the southern Philippines.
Following the Chief Executive's proposal, the CPP called on the NPA to "carry out armed counteractions and offensives across the country to defeat the Mindanao martial law and nationwide all-out war."
The CPP believed that Duterte wants to extend martial law "in the vain hope of completing the suppression of the armed resistance in Marawi City."
"It will prolong the restrictions against civil and political freedom and aggravate violations of people's democratic rights. It will further suppress the truth to control the narrative to favor the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," the communist group said in a statement.
"Thus, it is imperative for the entire Filipino people to vigorously oppose this plan," it added. (SunStar Philippines)