CPP/NDF: Lacierda is a bare-faced liar — NDFP

From the CPP Website (Jul 19): Lacierda is a bare-faced liar — NDFP

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines today branded as bare-faced lies the Aquino government’s claims of “commitment to end internal conflicts in a peaceful manner”. The NDFP pointed out that officials of the Aquino government had already made declarations terminating the peace talks. On the other hand, the armed revolutionaries have continued to extend the hand of peace.

The NDFP Negotiating Panel holding peace talks with the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) was reacting to news reports quoting Edwin Lacierda, spokesperson of President Benigno Aquino III, that Malacañang is committed to end all internal conflicts in the country “in a peaceful manner”. The report also quoted Lacierda as saying that, “It is up to the CPP-NPA-NDF to come to the table and break bread with us.”

The NDFP Panel pointed out that, contrary to Lacierda’s claims, GPH officials had themselves declared the termination of peace talks with the NDFP. This was widely reported in the media in April 2013, quoting Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, then GPH Negotiating Panel Chair Alexander Padilla, and Lacierda himself, that they are against coming to the table and breaking bread with the armed revolutionaries.

The NDFP Panel advised the Aquino government to “walk the talk” in resolving the internal conflicts in a peaceful manner: release all political prisoners, stop political assassinations and enforced disappearances, withdraw armed security forces from civilian communities, and prosecute and punish criminals within their government.

The NDFP Panel has always maintained its openness to continue with peace talks. It is up to the Aquino government to withdraw its earlier declarations terminating the peace talks, and return to the negotiating table.

The NDFP Negotiating Panel represents all armed revolutionary organizations in the peace negotiations, including the New People’s Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines. The talks have stalled due to the refusal of the Aquino government to honor past agreements signed between the two parties.

REFERENCE:

 Roselle Valerio
Information Officer
NDFP International Information Office
Email: ndf@casema.nl | info@ndfp.net
Tel: +31 30 2310431