Reject anti-peace talks candidates in polls – solon

Filipinos should not vote for “warmonger” candidates who oppose peace talks between the government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), a party-list lawmaker appealed to the public on Monday.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said such candidates are most likely “promoters of other anti-people programs and policies” that should not be given the honor to serve in government

“We then strongly urge our electorates to reject in the polls those candidates who are hawks, warmongers — those who are against the peace talks,” Zarate said in a statement.

He stressed that “peace process and the quest for a just and lasting peace” should be an electoral agenda not just for the May 2019 mid-term elections but also for the May 14 barangay and youth polls.

He said candidates should make peace process a central campaign issue as well as work for and support measures that will address the root causes of the nearly five decades of communist-led armed rebellion in the country.

“For starters, we call on those running in the barangay and SK polls to express their active support, not just mere lip service, for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines) peace talks,” Zarate said.

“At this crucial juncture, every venue and opportunity to support the peace talks should be maximized. The election is one of these venues, an appropriate field to distinguish the doves from the hawks,” he added.

During the 24th Cabinet meeting of the Duterte government, President Rodrigo Duterte green-lighted the resumption of peace talks between the government and the NDFP.

READ: Duterte orders resumption of peace talks with Reds

The President has also set a two-month deadline for the revival of the peace negotiations.

READ: Duterte: Reds, gov’t panel have 60 days to restart talks

Duterte terminated government’s peace negotiations with the communists late last year amid continuing hostilities, and subsequently sought to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist organizations. /kga