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José María “Joma” Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has lost control over the New People’s Army (NPA), said Senator Panfilo Lacson after the Senate investigation into the alleged red labels by the military.
The senator pointed this out on Wednesday when he reiterated the need to continue localized peace talks rather than deal with the PCP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Lacson said that not all local government units (LGUs) have the same level of insurgency problems.
“Either that, or there is basis in the security sector’s claim that bad faith through deception has always been on the agenda of the CPP / NPA / NDF Central Committee in calling for a bilateral ceasefire with the government. “, said.
“That explains why even if Sison agreed to a ceasefire [NPA rebels] they continue their attack, ”Lacson said.
A former high-ranking NPA officer, Noel Legaspi, testified on Tuesday that NPA rebels continued to attack government forces and harass business establishments even during peace talks.
Legaspi, the former CPP spokesman in Mindanao, said that during the 2016-2017 peace talks, the group was able to expand its massive base across the country. He also established a “shadow government” in Sultan Kudarat.
“We maximize [our attack during the] peace negotiation. That is 155 days. Because that time there was suspension of military and police operations [against the NPA],” he said.
“So, napakaluwag para sa CPP-NPA na mag (So, it was easy for the CPP) to maneuver. So, we were able to consolidate and expand our massive base, ”Legaspi said.
“That is where the deception of the CPP lies: using peace negotiations. We said among ourselves that we are mocking the government ”.
Lacson said that while the government should not give up peace efforts with the insurgents, it would be better to hold localized talks with them.
“Giving up peace should not be an option. But given the failures of previous administrations that participated in centralized peace negotiations, I fully support current efforts to locate him, ”he said.
The senator noted that the rebels’ situation “varies in different areas, so the LGUs are in a better position to determine and address their needs.”
What is needed from the national government would be clear guidelines and parameters for the talks, along with adequate assistance and supervision, he added.
“That makes it more practical and efficient to do it at the local level with the national government simply providing the guidance and support,” Lacson said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, however, said that the government must always be open to peace.
negotiations with the NDF.
“This is not a competition over the highest number of deaths [on both sides of the NPA and military),” the opposition senator said in a statement.
During the hearing, Pangilinan admonished Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. for saying that the peace talks are a folly.
Pangilinan pointed out that the government had allotted P19 billion to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-Elcac, to achieve peace.
“The challenge now is to ensure the money is spent well through good governance. All parties in these talks should learn a lesson or two from the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) peace accord and pursue a similar route,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said an armed struggle is not the solution to achieving lasting peace.
“Ako naman, personally ayokong nagkakapatayan ang Pilipino laban sa kapwa Pilipino, nasasaktan po ako (I am opposed to killings between and among fellow Filipinos),” he said.
“‘Di po nadadaan sa armed struggle ‘yan at kung gusto n’yo talaga ng totoo at maayos na pagbabago na makakabuti sa bawat Pilipino, tigilan n’yo na ang armadong pakikibaka (Armed struggle is not the way, and if you want real and better reforms that are good for every Filipino, you have to stop the armed struggle),” he added.
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