THE National Democratic Front on Monday called on the public not to blame them for the breakdown of the peace negotiations with the government.
The communists believe the abrupt decision to end peace talks and arrest members of the group is just the product of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “emotional” outburst.
NDF advisor Luis Jalandoni issued the statement after President Duterte scrapped the ceasefire with the NDF-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and ordered the arrest of NDF consultants.
The NDF call followed President Duterte’s appeal for peace to communist and Moro rebels on Sunday, urging them to instead plant rubber, coffee, and bamboos in mineral-rich Mindanao instead of fighting in the mountains.
In a speech before victims of the 6.8 magnitude quake that rocked Surigao province, Duterte said the mountains battered by conflict would mean nothing to contribute in the development of the war-torn south.
“When we achieve peace, when we can finally put a stop to this fight that we have against these communists, and when I am able to calm down our Moros—Mindanao won’t have storms. It may rain but it won’t flood. So let’s plant in our minds that we are not natives here,” the President said in his native Bisaya.
Duterte said Mindanao’s resources were all useful, especially its mountains if attended to properly.
The President cited Mindanao’s riches—including rubber and coffee.
“Look at the ends of the mountains. There’s rubber. Look around the world and try to see just how many car tires roll every day. That is why rubber is in demand. If you plant rubber in the mountains, you won’t have any problem because if you plant rubber on five hectares, you’d be a millionaire. Look at how many cars change tires every day. Every day those tires grow thin. How many millions change tires every day? That is why if you have land, plant rubber,” he said.
“Coffee is also profitable. Coffee is expensive because no one can buy coffee from Africa after they were hit with Ebola. No one wants to buy coffee from Africa. In South America, their crops were infested with pests. They still haven’t reached Philippines,” he added.
Earlier, Jalandoni said the President’s decision and his statement branding communist insurgents as “terrorists” was simply an “emotional reaction.”
The CPP also chided Duterte for terminating the government ceasefire, ending the peace talks and saying there could be no peace with the communist rebels.
“Judging by his record in his Oplan Tokhang, Duterte’s all-out war is bound to set his fascist dogs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a wild spree of human rights abuses against the people and gross violations of civil liberties,” the CPP said.
After seeking a safe conduct pass for CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, the President tagged the NDF-CPP-NPA as “terrorists” who were no different from the Abu Sayyaf Group.
On Feb. 4, Duterte announced he was ending the peace talks with the communists, blaming on the rebels over their demand for the release of 400 political prisoners.
“I went out of my way, sometimes being humble. When they resort to insulting remarks, I swallowed my pride because I wanted to end a 50-year-old war. But apparently, it seems to me that these terrorists wanted another 50 years of killing of Filipinos,” the President said.
“They want us Filipinos to kill one another,” he added.
Duterte, who expressed Sunday his disgust in the same speech over the shaved mountains because of destructive mining, said that planting bamboos in mountains could help in holding the soil to avert flooding.
“If you cut off trees, make sure you have something to replace [them] with, or else the soil will erode… Plant bamboo instead. Bamboo holds on to the soil really well. I’ll be back here,” he said.
Duterte stressed that all of Mindanao’s riches would not help its natives should infighting continue.
“Let’s achieve peace. All mountains that are full of conflict are useless,” the President said.
In the same speech, Duterte offered the hope that peace talks with the communist rebels would resume, and that his public conflict with them “will be resolved” soon.
The President also reiterated his warning to eradicate corruption and for the people in return should not turn to drugs.
“Don’t allow drugs to surface in your town. For me, if there is a pusher, there is a drug lord,” he said.
“Don’t destroy my nation. Don’t destroy the lives of our children because I will kill you. There will be no questions asked about it. If I go to jail, I’ll go to jail. Just don’t forget to visit me,” he told residents.