Gov't bent on ending insurgency problem by 2010

TAGBILARAN CITY - The government is determined to end the 35-year-old communist insurgency before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bows out of office, said a top government official Thursday.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said this is part of the Arroyo administration's program to move the country into a First World economy by 2010.

Speaking during the opening of the two-day Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) for Central Visayas, Gonzales said the President has given the National Security Council (NSC) "a marching order" to end communist insurgency during her term.

"We will end armed rebellion within her term. That means our deadline is sometime in June or July 2010. We will do it through whatever means-- we will continue with the peace talks. Yes, we will continue with dialogues," Gonzales said even as he challenged any armed group "not to ever threaten the national government."

"Any ideological group, any armed group in the Philippines will not be allowed to threaten this government anymore. If you want a fight, we will give you a fight. If you want peace, we will give you peace. We will have dialogue. We will have understanding but never, never in the premise of threat," Gonzales stressed.

Gonzales further said that the Arroyo administration is "duty-bound not to allow threats to be the basis of our peace efforts."

Gonzales expressed doubts on the sincerity of the National Democratic Front- Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA) in negotiating peace with the government.

NDF chair Jose Maria Sison had recently ordered the NDF-CPP-NPA to launch attacks while the military is preoccupied in wiping out the Abu-Sayyaf elements in Basilan and Sulu.

"This order is a clear equivocal statement on terrorism," Gonzales stressed, adding that "action speaks louder that words."

He noted that Sison's order means that the NDF is not really bent on talking peace with the government but instead wants to pursue its agenda of being in power not through democratic processes but through the "barrel of a gun."

"Be full-fledged democrats," Gonzales challenged Sison.