(FILES) This file photo taken on April 19, 2017 shows New People’s Army guerillas, the armed wing of the Maoist rebels, marching during the turn-over ceremony of captured government soldiers to officials and peace advocates in the hinterlands of Matanao town, Davao del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao.
AFP PHOTO / MANMAN DEJETO
MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Saturday denied that it is talking with Vice President Leni Robredo, or other presidential candidates, about the formation of a coalition government.
In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net, CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena denied Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s claim that Robredo’s win could lead to a coalition government with communists.
“For the record, neither the CPP nor the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has forged any agreement with any of the political parties running in the May 2022 elections nor are the CPP or NDFP concerned with discussing a ‘coalition government’ at this time,” Valbuena said.
Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez also said no coalition government is being “contemplated” between Robredo and the CPP, calling the allegation a “new low.”
It can be recalled that Lacson raised the possibility of a coalition government with the CPP after Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s claimed that NDFP-trained student activists were among those who attended Robredo’s rally in Cavite.
Lacson pointed out that a coalition government with communists “will set back the gains of the government’s efforts to end the country’s decades-old insurgency problem.”
Valbuena, however, noted that several presidential candidates, including Robredo and Lacson, have expressed willingness to resume peace talks with the communists.
However, he said that it could only be an “election talk.”
“None of the candidates have been explicit in declaring plans to resume the suspended peace negotiations with the NDFP and recognize all past agreements as basis for moving forward,” Valbuena pointed out.