Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) was starting to become irrelevant given the number of rebels surrendering to the government.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, Galvez said the communist rebels are against the government’s plan to intensify the implementation of socio-economic interventions in conflict-ridden communities because the organization is fast losing its clout and relevance.
“The number of rebel returnees grows day by day because they have realized that the government already has programs and policies in place that aim to address their needs and general welfare. Hence, there is no more reason for them to bear arms and pursue armed struggle,” he said.
“The armed struggle has no legitimacy in a civilized society. Armed violence is an anathema of peace and development, and the CPP-NPA should be disbanded.”
Galvez believes that CPP founder Jose Maria Sison’s continued attacks on the government’s peace agenda are a response to the successful implementation of Executive Order No. 70 which institutionalized a “whole-of-nation approach” implementation of good governance and promotion of social justice to end the decades-long communist rebellion.
“Sison and company are working overtime to sabotage the implementation of EO No. 70 because their organization will be rendered irrelevant. Obviously, they are hurting because of the government’s successes in its current inclusive peace and development efforts,” Galvez said.
On Thursday, President Duterte said he believed peace in Mindanao will be achieved sooner than later because of the number of rebels surrendering.
“At the rate that the NPAs are surrendering, mukhang (it looks like) I think that we’d be able to realize peace much earlier. But the most important thing is to come up and comply with the promise to the rebels,” Duterte said.
Localized peace engagements
Meanwhile, Galvez said Sison must understand that EO 70 is “people-centered and community-based” in finding lasting solutions to the root causes of social divides and conflict, and is not about military security operations, as Sison tried to label and demonize it.
“EO 70 has nothing to do with military combat operations, but more on how to harmonize our government instrumentalities and services in addressing the needs of our people. EO 70’s ultimate objectives are on the attainment of social justice and equitable service to humanity through the LPEs,” Galvez explained.
The localized peace engagements (LPE), one of the clusters created under EO 70, aims to empower people, make communities conflict-resilient, and provide a safe and direct line of communication between the government, the people, and rebels who want to give up armed struggle.
Claims debunked
Galvez likewise debunked Sison’s claim that the P21 billion in funds for conflict-affected barangays will only be a kind of racket for military officers to pocket the money.
“Maybe Sison is talking to himself, because their financial system is being controlled by only a few and mostly their ‘party wives’ are acting as finance officers. Their management system is dictatorial wherein ‘financial opportunism’ and corruption are very prevalent,” he said.
Galvez explained that the funds will not be released to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but directly to the local government units, communities, and people’s organizations. The implementation of the different projects will likewise follow stringent finance regulations on accounting and auditing procedures.
“Sison is so far away from what is actually happening on the ground, in which case he is either unaware or just ignoring the positive developments that are happening to these communities. Sison has no moral high ground and is not in the right mind to judge and prevent what is good for the Filipino people,” Galvez said.
“The number of rebel returnees grows day by day because they have realized that the government already has programs and policies in place that aim to address their needs and general welfare. Hence, there is no more reason for them to bear arms and pursue armed struggle,” he said.
“The armed struggle has no legitimacy in a civilized society. Armed violence is an anathema of peace and development, and the CPP-NPA should be disbanded.”
Galvez believes that CPP founder Jose Maria Sison’s continued attacks on the government’s peace agenda are a response to the successful implementation of Executive Order No. 70 which institutionalized a “whole-of-nation approach” implementation of good governance and promotion of social justice to end the decades-long communist rebellion.
“Sison and company are working overtime to sabotage the implementation of EO No. 70 because their organization will be rendered irrelevant. Obviously, they are hurting because of the government’s successes in its current inclusive peace and development efforts,” Galvez said.
On Thursday, President Duterte said he believed peace in Mindanao will be achieved sooner than later because of the number of rebels surrendering.
“At the rate that the NPAs are surrendering, mukhang (it looks like) I think that we’d be able to realize peace much earlier. But the most important thing is to come up and comply with the promise to the rebels,” Duterte said.
Localized peace engagements
Meanwhile, Galvez said Sison must understand that EO 70 is “people-centered and community-based” in finding lasting solutions to the root causes of social divides and conflict, and is not about military security operations, as Sison tried to label and demonize it.
“EO 70 has nothing to do with military combat operations, but more on how to harmonize our government instrumentalities and services in addressing the needs of our people. EO 70’s ultimate objectives are on the attainment of social justice and equitable service to humanity through the LPEs,” Galvez explained.
The localized peace engagements (LPE), one of the clusters created under EO 70, aims to empower people, make communities conflict-resilient, and provide a safe and direct line of communication between the government, the people, and rebels who want to give up armed struggle.
Claims debunked
Galvez likewise debunked Sison’s claim that the P21 billion in funds for conflict-affected barangays will only be a kind of racket for military officers to pocket the money.
“Maybe Sison is talking to himself, because their financial system is being controlled by only a few and mostly their ‘party wives’ are acting as finance officers. Their management system is dictatorial wherein ‘financial opportunism’ and corruption are very prevalent,” he said.
Galvez explained that the funds will not be released to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but directly to the local government units, communities, and people’s organizations. The implementation of the different projects will likewise follow stringent finance regulations on accounting and auditing procedures.
“Sison is so far away from what is actually happening on the ground, in which case he is either unaware or just ignoring the positive developments that are happening to these communities. Sison has no moral high ground and is not in the right mind to judge and prevent what is good for the Filipino people,” Galvez said.
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