Photo courtesy of the New People’s Army
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) warned there will be more tactical offensives to be waged by its armed wing to counter what they described as “tyrannical rule” of President Duterte.
“In the face of Duterte’s tyrannical rule and triple war, the people clamor for the NPA (New People’s Army) to mount more and more tactical offensives,” the CPP said in a statement on Sunday, September 10.
The CPP statement came after the President reiterated his call for the NPAs to declare a ceasefire first before the peace talks can resume. The communist movement said the government only wanted the revolutionaries to surrender without achieving any social and economic reforms.
The formal peace negotiations have not been resumed since the government panel refused to participate in the fifth round of talks last May in the Netherlands citing “lack of conducive environment” for the talks to proceed.
Duterte wanted a ceasefire document signed, but the communists argue that the real output of the peace negotiations is the signing and implementation of the agreements on social and economic reforms and political and constitutional reforms.
The CPP said they remain open to peace negotiations. But they said the peace talks with the government “cannot be fruitful while Duterte remains obsessed with Oplan Kapayapaan and demanding NPA capitulation.”
The ceasefire declared by the NPA last August 19, 2016 was the longest to date that lasted for 160 days. However, the CPP said the government forces “took advantage of the ceasefire” to conduct military offensives.
Meanwhile, Duterte on Saturday, September 9, said he will not hesitate in imposing Martial Law throughout the country to quell rebellion.
“I will not hesitate to impose martial law all throughout the country and order the arrest of everybody. Ke may kampo ako o wala. Hindi ako nananakot. Pero gagamitin ko talaga ang Armed Forces pati pulis,” Duterte said.
(Whether I have a camp or none. I am not threatening you. But I will really use the Armed Forces and the police.)
He also said he will allow demonstrations on the streets but warned protesters “not to create trouble.”
The peace talks was supposed to tackle the salient provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms before the backchannel negotiations were called off by the government in July. (davaotoday.com)
