CPP: Did Duterte really order stop to offensives vs NPA?

MANILA, Philippines—  The Communist Party of the Philippines on Sunday slammed Malacañang and the government’s peace panel for issuing statements on a halt on offensive operations without showing President Rodrigo Duterte’s specific orders.

“In view of these Malacañang statements since yesterday (Saturday), the prejudicial question must be put forward and asked of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)’s mouthpieces: Has GRP President Duterte ordered the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to refrain from carrying out offensives against the NPA (New People's Army) since the June 18 statement of GRP Negotiating Panel Chief Silvestre Bello III declaring 'not undertaking offensive operations' against the NPA?”  the CPP asked.

“If Malacañang cannot show such specific orders by Duterte, then its spokesperson must better refrain from issuing statements which castigates the NPA for carrying out actions against the AFP’s all-out war,” it added.

READ: Gov't peace panel announces stop to offensives vs NPA

The CPP cited that Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus “Jess”  Dureza and the presidential spokesperson have issued separate statements challenging the revolutionary forces’ sincerity in pursuing peace talks.

It  said the two government officials cited NPA attacks in Mindanao and elsewhere which they claim “disrupts the conducive and enabling environment” for peace talks.

These statements, according to the party, “denigrate the National Democratic Front of the Philippine Negotiating Panel and question its representation of the revolutionary forces.”

The CPP also said Bello and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana contradicted each other when the latter repeatedly declared that the Armed Forces  will conduct “pursuit” operations against the NPA while the former announced a stop on offensive operations against the NPA and NDFP in Mindanao.

Lorenzana made the statement in response to a raid by NPA guerrillas on a police station in Iloilo in the Visayas where the rebels managed to disarm police officers and take away their service weapons. 

“Recent events have shown that the upper echelons of the communist movement do not have actual control of NPA units on the ground, which continue to commit atrocities even while their comrades talk peace with the government,” Lorenzana said then.

'Where is Duterte?'

The communist party also pointed out that Duterte has not been seen nor heard to have ordered the armed forces “not not to undertake offensives” against the NPA.

“Duterte has neither rescinded his government’s 'all-out war' policy and 'flatten the hills' command against the NPA. The AFP’s war of suppression in Mindanao has worsened since the imposition of martial law more than a month ago,” the CPP said.

The CPP then reminded the government peace panel to remember its recommended condition to only order the NPA to refrain from carrying offensives in Mindanao if the AFP will likewise refrain from attacking the NPA and the people in its revolutionary base areas in Mindanao.

It also called on the government to be accountable of all armed offensives across the country. The CPP claimed human rights abuses have continued to worsen and have become more intense because of the declaration of martial law in May.

“Before claiming the right to castigate the NPA, the GRP must first account for all its unabated armed offensives and aerial bombardments across the country. These offensives have resulted in at least eight NPA casualties over the past ten days in Mindanao alone,” the CPP said.

“The conditions under Duterte’s all-out war compel the NPA to carry out counter-actions to defend itself and the people. It needs to launch military actions in the widest possible area to dissipate the offensives of the AFP and blunt its attacks against the people,” it concluded.

CPP still supports peace talks

Despite the conditions unmet, the CPP and the revolutionary forces said they still look forward to the continued formal peace talks with the government.

“The CPP and the revolutionary forces have repeatedly and unequivocally declared its support for the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations. The NDFP Negotiating Panel with its Chief Fidel Agcaoili and NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Ma. Sison, is fully recognized by the entire CPP and NPA,” it said.

Last May 27, Dureza said that the government peace panel would not participate in the scheduled fifth round of peace talks unless the CPP ensures that it can stop the NPA from launching offensives.

The Duterte administration, which has progressives in its Cabinet, restarted peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF in 2016 but negotiations have hit roadblocks over the release of political prisoners and the alleged occupation by security forces of villages that the CPP-NPA considers part of its territory.