In Photo: In this November 23, 2016, file photo, New People’s Army new regional rebel commander and spokesman Jaime Padilla, who uses the nom de guerre Comrade Diego, poses beside Comrade Katryn, who had her face painted to conceal her identity, at their rebel encampment tucked in the harsh wilderness of the Sierra Madre mountains southeast of Manila. Young Filipino rebels represent a new generation of Maoist fighters, who reflect the resiliency and constraints of an insurgency that has dragged on for nearly half a century through six Philippine presidencies. Crushing poverty, despair, government misrule and the abysmal inequality that has long plagued Philippine society were their best recruiter, according to the guerrillas. AP/Aaron Favila
The government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have embarked on yet another attempt at forging peace by agreeing to begin a new round of talks, along with a cease-fire.
Protesters hold slogans during a rally outside Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in Quezon City to protest the alleged “all-out war” being waged by the military and the police against communist rebels following the collapse of the peace talks on March 10.
But until both parties begin meeting on the negotiating table, there is no certainty that even a temporary amity between them will come—not just yet.
In fact, a prelude to the meeting is already characterized by posturing and innuendos by “angels” and “guardians” from both sides, one from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the other from the New People’s Army.
Rather than building confidence, the demeanor does not give credence, or augurs well for the resumption of peace negotiations.
Until the official start of the talks and the issuance of an accompanying cease-fire, the military said it will continue its “focused” combat and intelligence operations against the rebels.
The chief of the military’s public affairs office, Col. Edgard A. Arevalo, said this was due to the fact that there has been no word yet for the AFP to suspend its anti-insurgency operations.
Before the negotiations were stopped by President Duterte on February 4, both parties have already agreed to continue the formal talks the following month, with a bilateral cease-fire among the subjects of discussions.
With a mere intent, Arevalo said negotiations are not enough. The effectivity could even be the subject to an agreement by both the government and the NDFP.
Even if there would be talks, there must be a cease-fire before the military could stop its ongoing operations against NPA members around the country.
For a cease-fire to be issued and become effective, the military, taking a cue from Malacañang, said both parties should also come up with parameters.
“Until a unilateral cease-fire is issued, we will continue our operations,” said Arevalo, adding the military cannot be insensitive to the “sufferings of Filipinos” as a result of the “atrocities” committed by the rebels.
Until Wednesday, at least 61 “atrocities”, including firefights, have been committed by members of the NPA, as recorded by the military.
Out of these incidents, Arevalo said they have neutralized 120 rebels.
Countering AFP operations
As the military stuck to its guns, the NPA, through its spokesman, Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, said it stands ready to confront the offensive and “defend the people” from the reported abuses of soldiers.
“Since [the] GRP [government of the Republic of the Philippines] [represented by] President Duterte’s order on March 9 [decided] to ‘flatten the hills’, the AFP has become even more frenzied in its crazed war against the people,” Madlos said in the same statement.
The rebel spokesman went on to enumerate the reported excesses of the military.
According to him, on March 11, the military carried out aerial strikes in Barangay Cabuyuan in Mabini, Compostela Valley, using at least three MG-520 attack helicopters that dropped 10 bombs.
The bombing took place as ground troops fired their machine guns.
At least 75 families, composed of 200 individuals, were reportedly forced to flee their homes.
“For two days now, the AFP has conducted aerial bombing runs in Barangays Gawang, Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, using FA-50 jet fighters and MG-520 helicopter gunships,” Madlos claimed.
The operation, he added, forced the evacuation of at least 3,000 families.
Madlos said that since last month, the military has been conducting aerial bombings against “peasant communities” in Laak, Compostela Valley; in Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Asuncion in Davao del Norte; Fatima in Davao City; and Alabel in Sarangani.
He also claimed that over the past weeks, at least 15 peasants have been killed by the military and other agents of the government in Rizal, Quezon, Capiz, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Davao City and other places.
Options
Rather than trading barbs and painting animosity toward each other, both forces should diligently work for an environment that is conducive to the holding of the talks and its success. After all, peace is the only option, observers noted.
However, in the event that the second attempt for the negotiations follows the path of the initial talks, what would be left for the rebels and the military?
As previously declared by the rebels, they would have to continue fighting the government. After all, the insurgency has survived previous administrations, and there is no reason it could not survive the Duterte administration.
Localized peace talks
On the other hand, the military will continue its operations against the NPA.
It may follow also its track before the negotiations were sidelined, and this is to push through with localized peace talks.
Ground commanders have earlier reported that local officials in areas where the NPA operates have agreed, and even endorsed, the holding of localized talks.
This idea has been espoused by the military even in previous administrations.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/afp-war-with-communists-continues/
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