"We have always doubted their sincerity."
"We have always doubted their sincerity."
It's a welcome development that both the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines have declared a unilateral ceasefire during the holidays through January 7th.
Certainly, one of the foremost things that Filipinos hope to achieve in the coming year is lasting peace. Once more, the current leadership reflects this sentiment by opening the door to yet another possible peace talks with the CPP.
President Rodrigo Duterte sent a panel led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello to reach out to the camp of self-exiled CPP founder-leader Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands.
Time and again, such attempts to establish parameters to initiate actual peace negotiations between the government and the communist National Democratic Front have failed, owing to the latter’s onerous conditions, such as the massive release of its detained comrades facing criminal charges.
It is as if the NDF, CPP and the New People’s Army deliberately impose impossible preconditions to stymie the prospect of peace.
It seems that the communists’ appearances in exploratory talks with the government have been all for show.
This latest attempt to forge an agreement to formally pave the way for peace talks has barely started when the NPA killed a policeman, two civilians, and injured several others in Borongan, Eastern Samar last Dec. 13.
Many instances like this have put into question the communists’ sincerity going into peace negotiations with the government over the decades.
Not quite a few believe as I do that the NDF-CPP-NPA movement’s ultimate goal is by any means overthrow the government and defeat the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Unless it is clear that the communists shun their ill designs, then there is no point for the Duterte administration to put up with the enemy’s pretenses.
In stark contrast, the hope for lasting peace in the South has dawned magnificently with the process of establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.
Perhaps peace is farthest from the communists’ mind.