NPA won't disband, says NDF official

From the Sun Star-Davao (Dec 27): NPA won't disband, says NDF official
THE National Democratic Front (NDF) has no plans of disarming nor disbanding the New People's Army (NPA). Rather, it seeks to strengthen it further, said NDF senior advisor Luis Jalandoni in Monday's 48th anniversary celebration of the New People's Army (NPA) held at Barangay Lumiad in Paquibato District in the hinterlands of Davao City.

 This, despite the ongoing peace negotiation with government.

 “Palakasin pa para i-defend yung mga nakamit ng masa,” Jalandoni said in a press conference during the anniversary celebration.

 Jalandoni added that the armed group must defend what the people have achieved in terms of land reform, national industrialization, and likewise defend the country from the outside forces.

 He added that the armed wing of the communist party is necessary in the community they serve.

 He also stressed that talks for the third and last agreement on the end of hostilities and the disposition of armed forces will only be on the table only if the Comprehensive Agreement on the Socio Economic Reforms (Caser) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms are already agreed on by the panels.

 On third round of talks in Rome this third week of January, they intend to make sure that the Caser would entail advancements of human rights, health, education, and housing.

 “Maraming pag-uusapan sa Caser,” Jalandoni said.

He also added that for the next agreement on the constitutional reforms they intend to scrap Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca), and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

On the unilateral ceasefire Connie Ledesma, NDFP member who was also among the guests, also said that there are demands to lift the ceasefire in the communities claiming there have been violations committed by the government's armed forces.

 She said that when she raised this issue during the peace negotiations, the Royal Norwegian Government (RWG) expressed surprise that violations are being committed.

A guerilla who only identified himself as Ka Joaquin insisted that the violations are real.

“Nagtitimpi ang NPA na hindi parusahan ang mga miyembro ng mga kaaway. Sa oras na may atas na mawala ang ceasefire, parurusahan namin ang hindi nagrerespeto sa mga agreement,” Ka Joaquin said.

 Ka Joaquin said that because they respect the negotiations, they are doing their best to avoid armed encounters with soldiers and that they are now busy with basic fundamental military training while the ceasefire is in effect.

 “They train in military skills basic principles in the revolutionary movements,” Joaquin said.

He added that the soldiers also conduct trainings and education sessions in the community.

A total of 155 NPA soldiers belonging to the First Pulang Bagani Command battalion participated in a tactical inspection conducted Monday headed by the Ka Jinggoy.

  During the ceremony NDF Consultant Porferio Tuna, hailed the existence of the NPA saying that its continued support and service to the masses should not waver.

He also recalled how Leoncio “Ka Parago” Pitao lived up to the ideals of a rebel leader.

Among the audience of about 2,000 people gathered from different areas of Southern Tagalog, Ilocos Cordillera Region, National Capital Region, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Panay Region, North Eastern Mindanao Region, Far South Mindanao Region, Western Mindanao Region, and visitors from other countries, Pitao's widow Evangeline, stood and heard the adulations about her husband.

In a separate interview Evangeline said that she is still in pain from the death of her husband, but the support of the people alleviated this.

“I did not expect that many people will attend, and my pain from my husband’s passing away was somehow relieved,” she told SunStar Davao at the sidelines of the program.

Pitao said that what she wishes for right now is peace and that she hopes the peace talks will be successful.

Until now, she said, her family cannot be complacent about security concerns. Government officials were among the guests.

These include the chair of the Government of the Philippines Panel negotiating with the NDFP and Labor Secretary, Silvestre Bello III, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Bayan Muna Representative Karlos Zarate, Anak Pawis Representative Ariel Casilao, lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Liza Maza, Undersecretary Department of Social Welfare and Development Lisa Masa, Undersecretary of Department of Labor and Employment Joel Maglungsod, and former Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan.

 From the NDFP, aside from Jalandoni and Tuna were Ariel Arbitrario, Concha Araneta, and Ka Lando.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2016/12/28/npa-wont-disband-says-ndf-official-516998