Mayor Sara determined to pursue peace talks with Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): Mayor Sara determined to pursue peace talks with Reds

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is determined to push through with the local peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA) after its liquidation unit killed a city police officer on Monday.

"It was unfortunate, but this drives me to continue the peace talks to avoid similar incidents in the future," the city mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio bared there is an ongoing investigation to get the identity of the killers, but did not divulge details of the findings.

On Monday, PO3 Wilfredo Garol, a member of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) assigned at the Intelligence Section of the Tugbok Police Station was shot dead by two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) hit squad in Barangay Valencia, Tugbok District, this city.

Garol conveyed his wife, a teacher in a school in Valencia, on board his motorcycle. On his way back, the two suspects flagged him and asked for a free ride. But when they reached Purok 5 at Sitio Luman, Valencia the gunmen shot Garol several times resulting to his death.

DCPO chief Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum vowed that Garol’s death will be investigated thoroughly to identify those behind the treacherous killing.

His death, Tagum stressed, will not deter the police in their commitment to an intensified fight against all forms of domestic threats posed by communist rebels or criminals.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero threw his full support to the localized peace talks although he cannot discount possible threats to the community.

“We cannot discount the fact that as your AFP, we need also to address the armed threats,” Guerrero said.

Meanwhile, newly-installed commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) recognized the localized peace talks between the city and NPA in Davao City as he welcomed the initiative of the Mayor Duterte-Carpio to resolve the insurgency problem peacefully.

Asked if his command is willing to pull out the military troops in remote areas as a confidence-building effort, Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen Benjamin Madrigal said, “This will depend on what will be the agreement between both parties.”

“We will have to consult our leaders who are actively engaged in the peace process, regarding this matter,” he said.

Madrigal said that peace dialogues should be talked within the community.

Duterte-Carpio also expressed determination to push through with the peace talks despite the rejection of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), emphasizing her duty to pursue just and lasting peace in the city as the representative of the City Government of Davao.

She believes that this initiative can help achieve peace in the city although it depends on the rebels if they really want to talk peace.

The Davao City Peace Committee is given until November 2018 to work on the peace process. If nothing significant happens, the mayor will terminate the project.

As of August, the military recorded the death of six soldiers and a police in Davao region.

The NPA liquidation squad was suspected behind the spate of killings that was reportedly activated after military launched operations against them. Killed members of the military and police were two soldiers under the 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) in Compostela Valley Province; two from the 67th IB in Davao Oriental; a member of the Scout Ranger; and a police officer in Davao del Norte.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1016158