Malacañang on Wednesday said it is still open to peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) despite reports saying its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), is responsible for the death of Loreto Mayor Dario Otaza and his son.
“We have always been willing to proceed with the peace talks but with no conditions,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing.
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Lacierda blamed the movement for the break down in talks.
“You know, it has always been reduced to the level of the Jasig list,” he said.
Jasig refers to the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which grants “safe conduct passes” to negotiators, consultants and other personnel of both the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDFP) panels. The NDF is the political arm of the CPP.
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The NDF has been claiming that the Philippine government has refused to comply with the Jasig. However, the government has pointed out that the files containing the names of those guaranteed of safe conduct passes can no longer be opened.
“The Jasig list has already been corrupted,” Lacierda said. “If they wish to proceed with the peace talks, with no conditions, why not? That is always the agreement that we have.”
Otaza was a rebel returnee who later became a public official. He has since participated in anti-communist campaigns of the government.
Malacañang earlier said he was responsible for the surrender of more than 250 NPA members in the past, the last during a “peace caravan” of the national government.
“Insofar as the movements on the ground are concerned, we will continue with our peace caravan. We will continue to show the services, what government has done and can do for them,” Lacierda said of the areas where NPA is operating.
The NPA has yet to issue a statement on the killing of Otaza and his 27-year-old son Daryl.