Malacañang downplayed claims recently made by the Communist
Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army that their forces are expanding and
that they are now asserting their influence in Western
Mindanao .
In a radio interview yesterday, Presidential Communications
Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. dismissed this claim as absurd and
called it simply as a “propaganda.”
Coloma cited data sourced by the Cabinet security cluster
from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Compared to the second quarter of 2014, there was a 17 percent
drop in the number of NPA personnel, from 2,035 to 1,691.
There was also a 25 percent decrease in the number of
affected barangays, from 547 to 414, and a six percent drop in the number of
weapons, from 2,383 to 2,232.
Their guerilla front also dropped 17 percent from 29 to 24.
Coloma stressed that the decrease in the strength of their
forces is already clearly visible and that their effort to deceive is simply in
line with their plan to carry out extortion activities, which they call
“revolutionary taxation,” because of the upcoming 2016 national elections.
He gave his assurance that the government will continue to
intensify the delivery of essential services and programs for the benefit of
the citizens while ensuring their security and safety.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe is seeking
an indefinite extension of the holiday truce between the government and the
NPA.
According to Poe, it could pave the way
to a possible resumption of the long-stalled peace talks.
She said the indefinite suspension of military operations
could serve as a confidence-building measure that would prod both parties to go
back to the peace negotiating table.
“An extension of the ceasefire would be a goodwill gesture
that could lead us back to the negotiating table. Armed conflicts must end.
People are already weary of violence,” Poe said.
Both the government and the CPP agreed to observe the annual
ceasefire from December 23 to January 3, 2016 in solidarity with the Filipino
people’s traditional celebration of Christmas and New Year.
The SOMO was approved by President Aquino even after reports
that suspected NPA rebels ambushed a Philippine Army convoy carrying relief for
victims of typhoon “Nona” in Samar last December 18.
Church leaders have pushed for an extension of the truce,
saying the poor were the biggest casualties of the decades-long war between the
government and the communists.
“We should not give up on peace. That is not an option for
us,” Poe said. Let us not deprive our people of genuine progress. It’s time to
move forward,” Poe said, stressing that socio-economic reforms and progress
could only exist in a “peaceful and just society.”
Poe’s running mate, Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero, also
called for an extension of the truce at least until the May 9 elections.
The NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, has been waging a
guerrilla war for the past 40 years.
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