Palace dismisses Joma threat, says govt ready to defend citizens

From GMA News (May 4): Palace dismisses Joma threat, says govt ready to defend citizens

Malacañang on Saturday dismissed Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison’s claims of intensified attacks by the New People’s Army, after the government effectively ended formal peace talks with the communist rebels.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also accused the communist rebels of negotiating with a “forked tongue,” saying the NPA had never stopped its attacks even when the peace process was ongoing.

“Ang sinasabi nila hindi na bago 'yan. Anong sinasabi nila i-intensify ang operation, election time nag-e-extort ng pera sa pulitiko, permit to campaign...," Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio.

Lacierda also maintained the police and military are ready to defend the citizenry.

“Insofar as the defense (establishment) is concerned, we will always defend our citizenry,” he said.

He even characterized the CPP’s peace efforts with the government as “Chatty Chatty Bang Bang” – borrowing from the novel “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” – to refer to the communist rebels’ continued violence while peace efforts are ongoing.

“Ang talagang walang violence kung nagde-declare ng ceasefire, [that's the] only time na walang ginagawang violence ang NPA," he said.

Earlier, government peace panel head Alexander Padilla said the government is no longer keen on formal peace talks with the communist rebels.

Padilla noted the peace efforts with the communist insurgents had been “going nowhere for the past 27 years,” adding there had been “mounting violence” by the NPA on civilian targets recently.

On Saturday, Sison reiterated his attacks on the government, warning of increased offensives by the NPA due to the effective end of the formal peace talks.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying in an email interview that the government is “asking for intensified tactical offensives by the NPA.”

On the other hand, Lacierda said Padilla will stay on as the chief negotiator dealing with the communist rebels.

“Paano siya papalitan hindi siya ang problema (Why replace him when he is not the problem)?” he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306820/news/nation/palace-dismisses-joma-threat-says-govt-ready-to-defend-citizens