AFP still hopeful on gov’t, NDF peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - The military remains hopeful on the peace talks between the communist rebels and the government despite the recent verbal exchange between the two sides.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said they remain supportive of non-violent means to end the conflict with insurgents.

“We will continue to support the peace initiatives and peace-building efforts of the government,” Burgos said.

“We are very hopeful that our doors are still open to peaceful means to resolve conflict,” he added.

The military also renewed its call for the rebels to stop attacking non-combatants and soft targets like businesses, infrastructure and civilians.

Burgos said such attacks affect development and the livelihood of local residents.

On Wednesday, the National Democratic Front (NDF) accused the government of scuttling what was supposed to be a historic meeting between its chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison and President Aquino.

The NDF represents the communist insurgents in the talks.

The NDF said political affairs adviser Secretary Ronald Llamas was the one who proposed a meeting between Aquino and Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The NDF claimed the meeting did not happen due to the government’s refusal to release rebels who claim to be peace consultants.

Another issue that reportedly plagued the talks is the “government’s scheme of simultaneous, unilateral and indefinite ceasefires” which, the NDF claimed, would allow security forces to continue violence.

NDF said the proposed meeting between Aquino and Sison was just a “mere ploy or bait” to convince its negotiators to sign a government draft declaration in just one or two meetings.

“The GPH has deliberately refused to comply with its commitments in agreements forged with the NDF, despite the full knowledge that compliance would immediately break the impasse and cause the resumption of formal talks,” NDF said.

The communists also slammed the government for not releasing their supposed peace consultants who are said to be covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

The agreement provides immunity from arrest to NDF peace consultants. Some of the alleged peace consultants are leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) who are facing criminal cases.

The human rights group Karapatan said the police have arrested Kennedy Bangibang, an official of the NDF affiliate organization, the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF), and a consultant of the NDFP on Cordillera and national minority affairs.

Karapatan chair Cristina Palabay said the arrest of Bangibang on “trumped up charges” would be a stumbling block for the peace talks.

Palabay said the arrest of Bangibang speaks badly of the government’s intention on pursuing negotiations with the NDF.

According to Palabay, Bangibang was the 14th consultant arrested by the government.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong said Bangibang is facing murder charges with a reward of P2.5 million for his capture.  â€“ With Artemio Dumlao, Rhodina Villanueva