Monday, March 2, 2020

Army official: NPA spox ‘ignorant’ on purpose of peace efforts

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 2, 2020): Army official: NPA spox ‘ignorant’ on purpose of peace efforts (By Nanette Guadalquiver)



TROOPS’ COMMITMENT. Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya (center), commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, looks on as Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo (left) turns over the command of the 303rd Infantry Brigade to Col. Inocencio Pasaporte at the brigade’s headquarters in Murcia, Negros Occidental in a file photo. In a statement on Monday, Vinoya reiterated the troops’ commitment, together with the local government units and concerned government agencies, to fight for the welfare of Negrenses. (PNA-Bacolod file photo)

A top Philippine Army official in Western and Central Visayas has called New People’s Army (NPA) spokesperson Juanito Magbanua ignorant for criticizing the peace efforts of the government in Negros Occidental.

Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said such act hampers the desire of Negrenses to have a peaceful and progressive community.

“(He) needs enlightenment about the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) and the localized peace talks since his press statement clearly reveals his ignorance about the real purpose of these peace efforts,”
the Army official said in a statement on Monday.

Magbanua, speaking on behalf of Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the NPA-Negros Island, claimed that “the people’s money is used to militarize the services of the local government” and that “this so-called peace effort is futile and a waste of money”.
Vinoya said the communist-terrorist group leader is apparently “unaware that his comrades, family members, relatives, and even him can benefit from these drives aimed to address the root causes of insurgency.”

He added that through the TF-ELCAC, government agencies come together to address the issues and concerns of conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.


“They bring government services and programs closer to these areas to transform them into conflict-resilient communities conducive for sustainable peace and development,” he also said.

On the contrary, Vinoya added, the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is making the people’s lives miserable by continuing to exploit and abuse their condition to advance a selfish and ruthless armed struggle.

“That is the painful truth about your terrorist organization the Negrenses should know…You are not fighting for the welfare of the people. Your press statement is a confirmation of your true nature as anti-people, anti-peace, and anti-development terrorist organization,” he further said.

Nevertheless, Vinoya went on to urge Magbanua and his comrades to return to the fold of the law as he reiterated the troops’ commitment together with the local government units and concerned government agencies to fight for the welfare of the Negrenses.

“In due time, the Philippine Army will wipe you out in the region hence, you better surrender while you still have time, or be killed in the least sensible way,” he added.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095257

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