Sen. Franklin Drilon (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Sen. Franklin Drilon on Sunday called on the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to continue with the peace negotiations by forging a “mutual ceasefire.”
Drilon said a mutual ceasefire would be the best way to appease the tension between the two parties, which had escalated in the past weeks following a series of skirmishes between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops.
“Tama muna ang putukan (Let’s take a break from shooting). We cannot continue in that kind of environment,” Drilon said in an interview with DZBB radio.
He said the parties should find ways to compromise.
“Ngunit hindi dapat magpatuloy ang impunity, ang pagkolekta ng revolutionary tax, ang extortion na iyan, ang pag-ambush sa ating mga sundalo dapat itigil yan,” Drilon said.
(“But impunity should not persist, the collection of revolutionary tax, the extortion, and the ambush of our troops should stop.”)
“Hindi naman pwede na nag-usap tayo sa kapayapaan, panay naman ang banat ng kabila sa ating mga sundalo. Panay naman ang revolutionary tax sa ating mga mangangalakal,” he added.
(“We cannot talk about peace while attacking our soldiers and collecting revolutionary taxes from our businessmen.”)
On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to “wipe out” the NPA, the armed force of Communist Party of the Philippines, after the government had defeated remaining forces of the Maute Group in Marawi City.
The President earlier called off peace negotiations with the NDFP following the NPA’s ambush of a Presidential Security Group convoy in Arakan, North Cotabato. /atm