Alcover urges end to peace talks with NPA

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebu based partylist representative urged the junking of the government’s peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

For Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover, the government is “so indulgent” with the communist’s every request.

He says he wants peace, “but peace that is principled, not peace that is dictated by an armalite.”

Alcover cited the 42-years long negotiations between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDF that is going nowhere.

“Wala ni sinsiridad…and I call this as a political trap, we’re just wasting money and efforts here,” he said.

Alcover believes the government is not really addressing the problem but prolonging the problem.

“When you talk about negotiation, duna gyud bargaining… but the real problem is that there is no bargaining happening between the government and the enemies,” he said.

Instead of bargaining with the enemies, Alcover claims the government is now speaking for the enemy as the government negotiation panel members are “leftists.”

During yesterdays 42nd funding anniversary of the NPA, Alcover quoted a statement published in the CPP website which states “Fight and defeat the US-Aquino regime and fulfill the requirement for advancing towards the stalemate.”

Alcover takes this as a sign that the communist are not serious with the peace talks.

He said the government should use the old yet effective method of the late President Ramon Magsaysay in dealing with left.

“Ato’ng tabangan ang tanang mo-surrender, i-rehabilitate, i-reintegrate, ang tanang musukol gukuron nato… We will use the full force of the law sa mga hardliners nga armed rebels, taga-an og yuta, livelihood ug i-secure ang community,” he said.

Also yesterday, Alcover admitted his proposal to rename the historic Mt. Manunggal to Mt. Magsaysay was not studied well.

He said they fast tracked the drafting of House Bill 4125 with only a few days left before the death anniversary of Magsaysay.

Alcover earlier planned that once the bill is passed into law, ANAD will adopt the place as tourist destination and spend for its environmental protection. Once protected, ANAD will make it as an eco-tourism hub for local and international tourists, he said.

Mt. Manunggal is located in Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban, with a height of 1,003 meters above sea level.

Mt. Manunggal is within the Central Cebu National Park protected by Republic Act 8457 or the “Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act.” – Ryan Christopher J. Sorote/JPM (THE FREEMAN)