Lorenzana: Ladlad’s arrest can’t derail ‘suspended’ peace talks

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday rejected allegations that the arrest of National Democratic Front consultant Vic Ladlad was aimed to derail the peace talks between the government and communist rebels.

The statement came after Ladlad’s wife, Fides Lim, claimed that the arrest was intended to derail the possible resumption of peace talks.

Ladlad was arrested for illegal possession of firearms last week. His wife also claimed that government troops planted evidence to get him arrested.

“Mrs. Ladlad says that the arrest of her husband was done to derail the peace process. She is wrong. The arrest of Mr. Vicente Ladlad was a legitimate law enforcement operation conducted by the proper authorities who recovered high-powered firearms and explosives in his possession. How can the peace process be derailed when it has been suspended, if not stopped last June by the President?,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

“As for Mr. Ladlad’s arrest, anyone found violating Philippine laws will be dealt with accordingly. This is now best left to the courts. Mrs. Ladlad should trust in the fairness of our justice system,” he said.

He also cited the gains of the government’s localized peace efforts through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the Task Force Balik Loob, which assists communists rebels who want to go back to their normal lives.

The peace negotiations collapsed last year with government claiming that communist rebels have continued their  attacks on state forces. President Rodrigo Duterte then declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist groups.  /muf