Groups lament collapse of peace talks

LUCENA CITY – A partylist group and a nongovernment organization
lamented the collapse of the peace talks between the government and
the communist rebels.

“War is not the answer to the prevailing social unrest that foments
armed resistance,” Aaron Pedrosa, Sanlakas secretary general, said in
a statement.

He said the decision to drop the peace talks would mean the resumption of
armed hostilities “which translates to severe losses on both sides,
with civilian population as collateral damage.”

“The warmongers in the military backed by the US under the pretext of
its war on terror would profit from militarization, arms-dealing and the spoiled peace process,” Pedrosa said.

Sammy Gamboa, secretary general of Freedom from Debt Coalition, find
the cancellation of the peace negotiations “ironic”.

“The peace talks collapsed at a time when the NDFP and the GRP panels
are about to start on the substantive agenda to address poverty and inequality, brought about by neoliberal policies that post-Marcos governments until the Duterte have perpetuated?” Gamboa said.

“Does this development signal a retreat by the Duterte government and its admission that it is not interested in, nor is it incapable of carrying out reforms to address historical injustice?” GAL