NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili holds a press briefing in Rome. (Kodao Productions photo)
The clash in Makilala, Cotabato in which a New People’s Army guerrilla was killed, and the murders of a peasant leader in Negros Occidental and a lumad leader in Surigao del Norte may prod communist rebels to terminate the unilateral ceasefire they declared last year.
At a press briefing in Rome, where the third round of formal talks between the rebels and the Duterte administration are being held, Fidel Agcaoili, chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, said there could be quarters in government out to sabotage efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the almost half-century old armed struggle.
“This is a speculation on my part, but there appears to be sabotage of the peace process. If such is the case, the continuation of the ceasefire is becoming untenable,” Agcaoili said.
But Agcaoili’s government counterpart, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, said the Makilala incident “is more reason to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement to be guided on what constitutes a violation. For instance, which areas are covered by the ceasefire and which are not,” Sarmiento said.
The government and the rebels declared separate unilateral ceasefires last August to mark the resumption of formal peace negotiations. However, efforts to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement have been stymied by the continued detention of close to 400 political prisoners and alleged military violations of the government ceasefire.
NDFP INTERNATIONAL VIDEO IF FIDEL AGCAOILI'S PRESS BRIEFING:
The rebels demand that President Rodrigo Duterte stand by his word to declare a general amnesty for the political prisoners but he insists he will free them only if the NDFP agrees to sign a bilateral ceasefire pact.
“What is happening is similar to what happened in 2005 to 2006 where many activists were killed, presided by the very same people like National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Chief of Staff Eduardo Año,” he noted.
“The NDFP is preparing a letter of protest and we will issue a statement on the matter after,” he said.
Agcaoili said Friday's clash in Makilala was the result of a clear military raid on an NPA encampment, citing pictures of backpacks and rifles posted online by the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion.
On the same day, National Federation of Sugar Workers leader Alexander Ceballos and Katribu Party-Surigao del Norte provincial coordinator Veronico Delamente were also murdered.
The NDFP negotiator clarified that the decision to terminate or keep the unilateral ceasefire was for the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA to make.
“The six-month standing ceasefire was declared by the CPP and the NPA upon our recommendation. It would be up to them to suspend it based on their appreciation of the realities on the ground,” he said.
Despite alleged violations of the government ceasefire, Agcaoili said the NDFP is “set to receive the GRP’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire and we can even propose a future date for its discussion,” but stressed an agreement will not likely be reached during the current round of talks “unless President Duterte declares he will release all political prisoners tomorrow.”
But he added Duterte himself admitted during their January 2 meeting in Malacañang that the release of political prisoners is “unacceptable to the GRP military.”
“If such is the case, we can just talk while fighting,” Agcaoili said, recalling that they signed 14 major agreements with the government of then President Fidel Ramos without a ceasefire agreement.
Despite the obstacles, Agcaoili described the resumed talks a success.
http://interaksyon.com/article/136468/pace-talks--makilala-clash-activist-murders-imperil-ceasefire---reds
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