Palace: CPP rejects long truce for fear of losing combatants

From the Sun Star (Dec 29): Palace: CPP rejects long truce for fear of losing combatants

MALACANANG said Monday that the leadership of the Maoist group did not want a prolonged ceasefire for fear that it could lose its combatants.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing that the government can even extend the current month-long truce with the New People's Army (NPA).

"The government is willing to go extra mile. However, the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front) only declared certain dates for ceasefire. Strategic sa kanila 'yan because when the rebels go down and take a break, some of them don't want to go up anymore," he said.

The Philippine government has declared a unilateral ceasefire from December 19 to January 19 next year, while the CPP's was staggered: on December 24 to 26; December 31 to January 1, 2015; and on January 15 to 19, 2015.

Lacierda said that it would be better to resume the peace talks with the communist group if there is a ceasefire, similar to what happened between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"Siyempre, mas maganda kung maayos lahat tulad nang nangyari sa MILF na maayos ang pag-uusap. But again, that would depend on both sides, especially the CPP-NPA-NDF," he said.

At the same time, Lacierda said that the government will not consider any precondition for the resumption of peace talks with the leftist group.

“Our emphasis is always -- walang preconditions when it comes to talks. We have said that before. We have always said that when we come to talks with either party -- NDF or MILF -- there are no preconditions with the talks. This is something we have said time and time again,” he said.

Lacierda was responding to a question on whether the government would consider CPP founder Jose Maria Sison’s request to release Benito and Wilma Tiamzon before the peace talks resume.

He explained that there is a pending criminal case against Benito Tiamzon and his release is out of the question.

Benito Tiamzon is one of the top leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF, while his spouse, Wilma, is the group's Secretary General. Both were arrested in Carcar, Cebu last March 22.

Malacanang said at that time that their arrest was not covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee, signed with the CPP-NDF in 1995.

"Now, there is a possibility of a resumption of talks. What (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) Secretary Ging Deles has always emphasized is, 'Let's have a resumption of talks where it is doable and time-bound; and there are certain issues that we need to clarify further,'" Lacierda said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2014/12/29/palace-cpp-rejects-long-truce-fear-losing-combatants-384080