Military still keen on peace talks with reds

MANILA, Philippines - The military remains optimistic about the prospects of the peace process with communist rebels despite the alleged violations committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) during the ceasefire period.

The 12-day holiday ceasefire between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ended on Monday with the military accusing the rebels of violating the truce four times.

Security officials said the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, launched attacks against soldiers in Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon and Davao City on Decemer 23 and in Camarines Sur on January 1. No casualties were reported during the four incidents.

The CPP has yet to issue a statement on the military’s claims.

Despite the violations, the military said it would continue to support the peace talks with the communists.

“We are serious about talking peace. We are not recording the errors they committed, as part of the grounds we can use not to initiate talks. But they were the ones who left the negotiating table. Our national government remains on the negotiating table so if they are serious, they should come back,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said in an interview.

“It does not affect us but it reflects on them. That they are not serious about the talks,” he added.

Padilla claimed that the NPA atrocities even strengthened their resolve to achieve peace. He, however, said the violations of the holiday truce might be indications that the communist leadership has lost some control over its ground troops.

“This a sign that we have to see as an opening that we should negotiate with those on the ground instead of negotiating with those up there,” the military spokesman said.

The end of the ceasefire means that the military can now resume offensive operations against the communist guerillas, which has more than 2,000 adherents nationwide, based on latest Army estimates.  

Peace talks between the government and the communists were called off after the two parties failed to reach a deal on detained rebel leaders.  

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), which represented the CPP and NPA in the talks, demanded the release of rebels facing criminal charges, saying they are acting as peace consultants and are therefore immune from arrest. 

The NDFP said freeing the peace consultants is consistent with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees signed by peace negotiators in 1995.

The government panel, however, rejected the demand, saying the NDFP could not validate the identities of the jailed rebels, especially those using aliases.