Gov’t will still pursue peace despite attacks on mines, says Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang condemned Monday’s raid staged by hundreds of New People’s Army guerillas on mining facilities in Claver, Surigao del Norte and called it an atrocity.

At the same time, the Palace said the attack would not stop the government’s quest for peace with the communist rebels.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday called on peace negotiators in the National Democratic Front to ask their colleagues “to exercise restraint as part of confidence-building measures.”

In a statement he read at a Palace briefing, Lacierda said the incident “undermines the peace process and makes it difficult to pursue negotiations.”

“However, we remain determined to fulfill our people’s aspirations for peace. We hope that the rebels will do likewise,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Lacierda said the government remained committed though to pursue peace with communist rebels as this was the “better alternative than war.”

Lacierda said the government panel negotiating peace with communist rebels would raise the issue of the attacks “in the strongest possible terms.”

The two peace panels are trying to schedule a formal meeting in Norway this October.

Lacierda also said security officials would continue to go after those behind the attack.

President Benigno Aquino III, upon learning about Monday’s incident, ordered security officials to conduct a review of operational procedures as well as come up with a threat assessment report, Lacierda said.

He said the threat assessment report would cover “vulnerable” areas.

In a separate statement, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles acknowledged that peace talks “were more difficult when there is no accompanying ceasefire on the ground.”

Deles said: “Hostile attacks, such as the one conducted by the NPA [on Monday] in three mining areas in Surigao del Norte undermines people’s confidence in the peace process, creating a ‘disconnect’ between agreements made on the peace table and what is happening on the ground.”

Like Lacierda, Deles reiterated government’s commitment to the peace process and its hope the communist rebels would share the same commitment.