BAYAN Muna Representative Karlos Zarate said Monday there is a need to resume the stalled peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front as soon as the new administration takes over.
"There are two governments in this country, one is the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the other is on the mountains," he said in yesterday's Kapehan sa SM Annex.
Zarate aired this concern in the wake of the recent attack of the New People's Army (NPA) at a police station in Governer Generoso town in Davao Oriental.
Last May 29, after at least two hours of gunfight between the 14 on-duty policemen and some 50 heavily armed rebels, the former ran out of ammunition and surrendered to the attackers. The NPA then seized the station's commander Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen.
But on June 2, NPA spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez explained in a statement the attack was actually a demand coming from the residents in the area as they seek for punishment for the policemen who have become protectors of illegal drug activities in their municipality.
"In fact, Red fighters confiscated a sachet of shabu from Ongachen following the raid. The locals have complained that policemen have long protected the land-grabbing activities of prominent families in the province," Sanchez said.
Zarate said in the media interview that this is the reason why the peace talks should resume as rebel groups actually are geared on serving justice to victims.
“That makes us very fortunate on having a president-elect (from Mindanao) who can understand the complexities kung bakit merong ongoing rebellion in our country,” he explained.
The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines signed on 1998 will once again be discussed and “pave way to peace in this country.”
“CARHRIL can be applied for the release of the political detaineesng NPA and samga apprehended members din nila,” Zarate added.