Peace negotiator laments NPA attacks

MANILA, Philippines – The chairman of the government peace panel on Saturday expressed sadness and disappointment over the “heightened acts of violence” that the New People’s Army has committed.

Lawyer Alex Padilla said government negotiators have at every opportunity pressed the National Democratic Front of the Philippines for a ceasefire for the peace talks to proceed.

“We’ve been asking for [a ceasefire] at every opportunity but the problem is, they really don’t want it. We hope that just like with the [Moro Islamic Liberation Fron], we can have a ceasefire while the talks are ongoing,” Padilla said in a radio interview.

“These heightened acts of violence are really sad, really disappointing,” he added.

Padilla on Friday condemned the NPA’s plan to subject Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao Del Sur, to trial by so-called “people’s court”, and classification of four jail guards they had kidnapped as “”prisoners of war.”

“These acts committed by the NPA are nothing short of criminal. They are violative of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or CARHRIHL, which they have signed, as well as every human rights protocol,” Padilla said in a statement.