Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II (left) and New People’s Army guerillas. INQUIRER, AFP FILE PHOTOS
Why are you not condemning the attacks if you’re sincere with the peace talks?
This was Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II’s question for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) after an alleged New People’s Army (NPA) ambush took place in Cotabato City on Wednesday, prompting President Duterte to call off peace talks with the communist rebels.
READ: Duterte threatens to end peace initiatives if rebel attacks persist
“Sa mga kausap natin sa peace talks: If you have no control over those who continue to attack government troops and installations, why don’t you condemn these attacks? If you have no control and do not condemn the attacks, why are we talking?” Honasan said in a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday.
“This is bad faith. Lokohan ito,” he said.
Four members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were wounded after suspected NPA rebels ambushed their convoy in Arakan, North Cotabato early Wednesday.
After reports of the attack came in, Malacañang announced that Duterte is directing government panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) “not to resume formal peace talks unless the Reds agree to stop their attacks against government troops in Mindanao.”
The planned back-channel talks in Europe this week will also be cancelled.
The peace panel, led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, was set to conduct “back-channel talks” with the NDFP to discuss the resumption of formal negotiations.
In an interview at the Senate on Thursday, Senator Joel Villanueva said he supports President Duterte’s suspension of peace talks following the Cotabato ambush.
“Naiintindihan ko where the President is coming from. Tuwing nakikita ko ‘yung reports about the killings ng ating mga sundalo eh nararamdaman ko po hindi lang ‘yung sinasabi niya pati ‘yung sama ng loob nararamdaman ko rin so I share his sentiment,” Villanueva said.
(I understand where the President is coming from. Every time I see reports about the killings of our soldiers, I feel what he’s trying to say as well as his displeasure, so I share his sentiment.) JE/rga