No to further talks with NDF

The search for peace should always be pursued in the spirit of sincerity, good faith and without undermining the dignity of the Philippine government, much less the integrity and sovereignty of the State. While it is the duty of the President to exhaust all avenues to seek peace with all rebels, whether MILF, MNLF, CPP, NPA, or NDF, we should always be mindful of the need for sincerity on the part of the negotiators sitting in the other side of the negotiating table.

It has been proven by empirical data that the National Democratic Front and its ally, the Communist Party of the Philippines, and their armed warriors, the New Peoples' Army – all headed by an ivory tower, steak-eating so-called leaders Jose Maria Sison and Father Luis Jalandoni – have never shown sincerity in the conduct of peace of negotiations.

The Philippine government has already given too much concessions to the rebels, including the wrong moves of allowing peace talks to be held in Oslo, Norway, which, in effect, has bestowed on the NDF/CPP/NPA a belligerent status, in the eyes of the international community of nations. President Duterte has even agreed to appoint left-leaning partisans, again a wrong move for it gave a semblance of a right of representation in the national government. Such characters as former DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano, Liza Masa of the Anti-Poverty Commission and DOLE Usec. Joel Maglungsod were installed in government, allowing them an inside unlimited access to sensitive government information, and tremendous opportunities to use of government resources and facilities. Having realized rather too lately, the inherent tactical errors in such appointments, they were negated albeit rather belatedly. They were all ousted including many other undersecretaries and other underlings.

What did the government gain in giving away many favors to the rebels? Nothing. Instead of reciprocating, the CPP/NPA/NDF always took advantage of the peace talks and the cease-fire agreements to gain time in order to regroup and consolidate their forces on the ground. They keep on ambushing our soldiers and our police forces. They continue to raid communities which are sympathetic to the government. They continue to recruit and to conduct lightning raids on our camps and other installations, even civilian offices and agencies. While the government adheres strictly to the protocols of the peace talks and ceasefire, the other side has never shown any semblance of good faith at all. And so, what is the point of wasting public funds to talk to people who have hidden agenda.

It is time to end such a useless and harmful charade. The Reds are not going to give up their ideological principles and core beliefs. Their mission is to overthrow the government, and install an ideological politburo under the control and domination of the Communist Party. These systems are all which is alien to the culture and values of the Filipino people. Any further peace talks will only allow the rebels more access to government logistics, information and above all.