NEWLY installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin said Tuesday, February 27, that they have yet to see a reason to recommend the revival of the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
He said the AFP is still gauging the sincerity of the leftist group in its desire to resume the talks.
"When you go to the table it should be in good faith, everything should be done in good faith. Pag seryoso tayo, we have to be sincere kaya pag umupo na tayo jan everything should stop, the extortion, harassment, the burning, the harassment of civilians they should all stop so can really talk peace,” he said.
“Marami na rin sumusuko dito dahil nahihirapan na sila sa kabundukan (A lot of members surrendered because of their difficult situation in the countryside) but promises from the underground when they entered are not being met. So it may be right at this point in time but we have to look at the other side. Are they ready to talk peace? Are they ready to really sit down and stop all the atrocities in the countryside?” he added.
Datuin said the recent series of attacks conducted against the government troops by the NPA rebels, including that in Antipolo, Rizal and Quezon province, are among the reasons for their apprehension to recommend the continuation of the peace talks.
Meantime, he also said the arrest of the kidnap-for-ransom suspect Donato Jacob, who admitted being a member of the NPA, may also affect their recommendation.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) presented on Monday Jacob, who said they engaged in a kidnap-for-ransom activity in December to raise funds for the Christmas season.
Jacob also admitted they are engaged in the extortion of businesses in Bulacan area for the NPA.
PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said Jacob’s admission will affect chances of reviving the peace talks, which were scrapped in November 2017.
As of December 2017, around 600 of the estimated 3,700 members of the NPA have surrendered to the government after President Rodrigo Duterte promised that the administration will provide housing and decent job to each NPA surrenderer.
Datuin said the eastern Mindanao has the biggest number of NPA rebels as compared to other areas in the country. (SunStar Philippines)