Army officers in Abra open to local peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - Army officers in Abra remain open to holding local peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA) despite recent allegations made by the rebels against their troops.

Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, chief of the Abra-based 503rd Infantry Brigade, said they would continue to support peaceful ways to end the conflict with the insurgents.

“We will welcome local peace negotiations. We will welcome peace talks in line with the new approach of the OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process),” Iriberri said in an interview yesterday.

Iriberri also called on NPA guerrillas to abandon the armed struggle and to choose peaceful lives, saying violence and extortion activities would not address the issues they are raising.

Iriberri reacted to an NPA statement that the prospects of peace talks are getting dim due to the military’s operations.

NPA Abra spokesman Diego Wadagan alleged that two minors were hurt in a military air strike last May 31 in Malibcong, Abra.

Iriberri, however, denied that an air strike was conducted in the province. He said the MG-520 helicopter involved in the operation only provided close air support.

“The press release of the (communist rebels) regarding the alleged air strike is pure propaganda,” Iriberri said.

He also clarified that he did not intend to use the word “air strike” to refer to the operation.

Iriberri said he merely quoted Malibcong Mayor Benido Bacuyag, who used the word “air strike” in his report to Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. 

Bacuyag reportedly got the term from the press release of the NPA. 

In a text message to Bautista, Iriberri said he has talked to Bacuyag and “he attested that per verification with his constituents in the said barangays, there was no civilian casualty as a result of the air strike.”

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said the close air support involved the delivery of two rockets to mark an area.

Iriberri said there are about 100 remaining NPA rebels in Abra. He said the insurgents have resorted to propaganda due to their failure to launch offensives against military forces in the northern province.