Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
The Philippine government condemned on Monday the “senseless destruction” allegedly caused by communist rebels in Davao City during the Holy Week.
“The fact that three consecutive attacks happened during the observance of Holy Week all the more angers us,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said in a statement.
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) torched heavy equipment in three separate incidents over the weekend.
News reports said the first incident happened late evening Saturday, when rebels burned four dump trucks and a backhoe in Brgy. Callawa in Buhangin District.
It was followed by an incident in Brgy. Fatima, Paquibato District, where two heavy equipment valued at P15 million were burned.
Early Sunday, the communist rebels burned a backhoe worth P8 million in Brgy. Dalagdag in Calinan town.
“This unnecessarily squanders whatever gains we have been quietly getting lately in our common efforts with the Communist Party of the Philippines/ NPA/ National Democratic Front leadership to achieve just peace through the negotiations table,” Dureza said.
Some lawmakers have been calling for the resumption of peace talks of both sides but Dureza said there must be an “enabling environment” conducive for the negotiations.
“We are therefore saddened by the consequent setback these attacks bring to our efforts,” he added. /kga