AFP doubts CPP-NPA intentions on peace talks

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has expressed doubts on the real intentions of the Communist Party of the Philippines in pushing for the peace negotiations.

“We are supportive of all peace efforts, national or local, in order for us to have a lasting peace or pang matagalang kapayapaan sa ating bansa. Subalit kelangan po nating mating mapanuri kung ano pa talaga ang tunay na layunin at isinusulong ng teroristang grupong NPA [New People’s Army] sa paghahangad ng usapang pang kapayapaan,” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a press briefing on Monday.

“Sinasabi ni Ginoong Luis Jalandoni sa kanyang panayam na ang peace negotiation is one of their approaches as a legal struggle. Pero never nilang ia-abandon ang armed struggle. By going in peace negotiation, in peace talks, they are merely advancing their armed struggle. Hindi nila talaga ito iiwan,” Arevalo said.

The government earlier postponed the supposed resumption of peace negotiations initially set this month after President Rodrigo Duterte said the government needed more time and consultations before the talks would resume.

The CPP claimed that the postponement of the negotiations was to give way to the AFP’s offensives against communist rebels but this was denied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

‘Downward trend’

Meanwhile, Arevalo cited a “downward trend” on the atrocities conducted by the NPA compared to last year.

From June 1 to 25 last year, 455 NPA-related incidents were recorded in 2017 while 112 incidents were recorded during the same period this year.

There were 77 arson incidents recorded in 2017 and only 18 such incidents so far this year. Kidnapping incidents have also decreased from 25 to one.

However, the number of NPA members was suspected to have increased in recent months. Arevalo said that there are around 3,900 armed communist rebels based on military estimates.

Last January, then AFP chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero assessed the NPA manpower at 3,700.  /vvp