Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. FILE PHOTO/MALACANANG
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday expressed full support for the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to call off the peace talks with the communist rebels, as he cast doubts on their sincerity.
“That is why I fully support the President’s decision not to resume the formal peace talks unless the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) stop their attacks and extortion activities and reign in the warmongers among them,” he said in a statement.
While he also wants peace, the defense chief said they can only talk peace when both sides mean what they say.
“Tiwala ako sa integridad at katapatan ng ating government peace panel… (I trust the integrity and honesty of our government peace panel…) I, however, question the sincerity, integrity and motives of the other side,” Lorenzana said.
The defense secretary cited the latest NPA incidents including the ambush of presidential guards in North Cotabato that left four wounded, the death of two Marines who were buying food in the market, and the bombing in Surigao del Sur which left six soldiers wounded, among others.
READ: Duterte security men ambushed in North Cotabato; 6 wounded
Lorenzana said these incidents “show why they are rightfully labeled as communist terrorists.”
The planned back-channel talks with communist rebels set in Europe this week were called off by Duterte after four members of the Presidential Security Group were wounded in North Cotabato.
Lorenzana said the government was sincere in its negotiations while the other side responded with “double talk and treachery.”
READ: Gov’t cancels back-channel talks with Reds
“Hindi naman puwedeng ganito na lang palagi ang nangyayari. Kailangan na nating magkalinawan (It shouldn’t have to be this way all the time. We need to clear things up). That is why I ask the leaders and members of the CPP-NPA: Do you really want peace or do you want to continue down the bloody path of war?” he said. JPV/rga
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