Gov’t not giving up on talks with rebels

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The government remains committed to peace with communist rebels despite a recent declaration by the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines that it would no longer return to the negotiating table under the Aquino administration.

In a statement, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles said that the CPP had yet to formally inform the government of its intention to stop negotiations with the current administration.

The CPP Central Committee on its 45th anniversary last December 26 said that that it would no longer pursue the already stalled talks under the Aquino administration because of its “unwillingness to negotiate a just peace.”

“It has no choice but to wait for the next regime to engage in serious negotiations,” the CPP said.

Deles said that if indeed the CPP would no longer pursue the peace talks with the current administration, “the government… remains committed to work for a peaceful settlement of all internal armed conflicts.”

“The GPH will not close the peace table to those who want to pursue sincere and truthful dialogue in responding to our people’s call for peace,” Deles said, adding, “We will combine to seek ways to resume negotiations on the basis of a doable and time bound agenda.”

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday condemned an attack by the New People’s Army  in storm-ravaged Ormoc City in Leyte province.

“This act of violence is a blatant violation of their self-declared truce in Yolanda stricken areas.  We will definitely take necessary actions in order to put the perpetrators in the bar of justice and let them face the consequences of their crimes,” the AFP said in a statement.

The military scored the NPAs for their “insincerity towards our call for peace.”

“We hope that they will wake up from the horror of their violent beliefs and embrace peace and society as part of the Filipino nation,” the AFP said.

According to the military, the communist rebels ambushed an Army  truck transporting personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  in Barangay (village) Cabintan Saturday morning. The firefight lasted for 20 minutes until the communist rebels withdrew.

No casualties were reported.

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