SENATOR Panfilo Lacson finds an ally in his bid to put on hold peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) until the commmunist group can show sincerity in the peace process.
Exasperated over what they described as continuing atrocities committed by the NDF's armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA) against businesses in Mindanao, business leaders in Davao City called on the Duterte administration to heed Lacson's call to put off peace talks and take into account the damage inflicted by the communist rebels on their businesses.
Besieged by the continuing extortion activities and attacks by communist insurgents on their businesses, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president Ronald Go and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) president Alexander Valoria both agreed with Lacson to scrap peace negotiations with the NDF.
The two prominent business leaders believe the NDF obviously has no control over its armed unit which has continued its attacks not only on government installations, but also on private businesses, especially those operating banana and pineapple plantations in Mindanao.
"Unless the NDF and its armed group on the ground can show that it is sincere in pursuing genuine peace, it would be useless and futile to keep on talking," Valoria said, adding that "Treachery and betrayal have no place on the peace table."
For Go, the continuing atrocities of the NPA only prove that there is no central communist leadership that is capable of pursuing genuine peace with the government."
"If that is the case then Senator Lacson is right to advise the government to hold off negotiations with the NDF," Go added.
Lacson has urged the Duterte administration to hold off peace talks with the NDF after the NPA attacked a police outpost in Iloilo last Sunday, June 18.
Last Friday, a still undetermined number of NPA rebels attacked a police detachment in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. One policeman was killed during the encounter.
He said "the first thing to consider before resuming the peace talks with the NDF is an assurance and clear proof that the NPA is still under the Communist Party of the Philippines-NDF control and direction."
Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on public order, said recent events show that the NDF clearly has no control over the NPA.
Valoria asked the government to reconsider its recent move requiring security personnel guarding their plantations and offices to deposit their high-powered firearms with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"We are respectfully appealing to authorities to review this recent directive as we are left at the mercy of the NPA and other lawless elements which, in most cases, are now able to carry out their attacks using high-powered guns," Valoria said.
Go said businessmen in Mindanao no longer want to add to the security concerns that law enforcement authorities are currently facing in the island in light of the declaration of martial law.
"This is why the business community is requesting the government to at least give us some leeway to allow us to protect our businesses from the NPA and other criminal elements," Go said.
Valoria and Go welcomed the recent assurance made by the police leadership in Mindanao that it will take steps to fill the security gap left by the recent directive requiring private entities to deposit their high-powered firearms with the PNP.
Among these measures, Valoria said, is the PNP’s move to speed up the training program for Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary (SCAA) groups that will be deployed to augment security forces in Mindanao.
PBGEA members operate banana and pineapple farms in areas that are infested with NPA insurgents "and it is precisely the presence of our high powered firearms that deter the NPA from attacking us."
"This has been proven in the past. The NPA will laugh at our shotguns and pistols as they can now easily overrun our facilities. Without a chance to defend ourselves, many may see that there is no other choice but to pay the NPA’s revolutionary tax," Valoria said.
Valoria recalled that just two months ago, NPA guerillas torched some P4 million worth of farm equipment at a pineapple plantation owned by Del Monte Philippines in Davao City, less than a week after government negotiators and the NDF agreed on an interim joint ceasefire agreement.
The NPA has resorted to burning equipment and facilities in fruit plantations in Mindanao to force companies to pay them "revolutionary taxes."
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