SANTA Banana, here we go again, in the fourth round of peace talks between government and the National Democratic Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines, with their armed insurgent group, the New People’s Army.
The negotiators are scheduled to meet for the fourth time, this time in Norway.
So will they finally agree to have peace or will the communists impose impossible conditions? They previously demanded that all 400 political prisoners be released.
The Reds are reportedly set on declaring their own ceasefire, preparatory to the peace talks, during the first week of April. The President seems ambivalent because he still would want to meet with security officials and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I believe this is necessary.
President Duterte says that unless the communists accept his conditions, there will be no fourth round of peace negotiations. Among the conditions of the government is a bilateral ceasefire agreement, stoppage of extortion activities by the NPAs, the release of all hostages the NPAs continue to hold, the opening of so-called NPA territories where the government force cannot go, and the stoppage of ambushes on government forces and raids on military and police camps.
So can the communists comply with these?
The next question now is, can the communists comply with all these conditions, especially to stop the communist insurgents’ collection of “revolutionary taxes?” Many of them have become bandits—in the guise of espousing the communist ideology.
That’s why many political analysts believe that peace negotiations with the Reds is next to impossible.
The only recourse of government is to continue its all-out war against the communist insurgency. Their ideology is a thing of the past.
In Russia, China and Vietnam, communism has turned into capitalism. It is only in the Philippines where a homegrown communist movement has existed for decades now.
The first mistake the Philippine government made was to make an entirely domestic problem like the communist insurgency an international affair. Why conduct the peace talks abroad?
All things considered, I’m not optimistic that the fourth round of talks between the government and the communists will ever amount to anything. My gulay, peace should never be attained at all costs!
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Malacañang should not easily dismiss the New York Times’ publication of what is happening to the Philippines in President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs and alleged violation of human rights. The Palace claims it is all part of a well-funded demolition job by those out to oust the President. A reporter came to the Philippines to analyze what’s happening in Davao.
This implies the prestigious and influential American publication can be bought.
The Times is read by policy makers worldwide. Now it calls on the country’s trade partners to hit the government where it may hurt the most by suspending trade incentives and impose tariffs on Philippine good.
The New York Times is also calling on the country’s trade partners to hit the government where “it may hurt the most”—by suspending trade incentives and impose tariffs on Philippine goods. It urged Manila’s trading partners to follow the European Union’s example of threatening to revoke trade privileges and to hold President Duterte accountable for his alleged killings in his war against illegal drugs.
Malacañang should understand that what the New York Times is saying is also in the minds of world leaders. I believe the President should listen to what the world is saying about him.
While the majority of us Filipinos may agree on the need to stop the country from becoming a narco-state, it’s also important to note outside voices are heard.
Santa Banana, the President must realize that the problem of illegal drugs and criminality can be traced to the high incidence of poverty and joblessness.
Illegal drugs is a worldwide phenomenon. It can be minimized but not totally eradicated. The President’s vow to end illegal drugs and to kill the last pusher can never be achieved; so long as there is that demand for illegal drugs, cartels and syndicates from abroad will always be willing to supply that.
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The plan of the President to have barangay executives end their terms by further postponement of the barangay elections scheduled anew this coming October is a dangerous move. Many of these barangay executives are allegedly in the President’s narco-list of politicians.
My gulay, to have executives in the barangay level beholden to the President is not the way to make the country drug-free. To make political patronage the norm in the barangay level is as dangerous as having officials involved in illegal drugs.
The move is also unconstitutional. The Constitution is clear on the need to elect barangay executives at the local level. Thus, if Mr. Duterte wants to appoint barangay officials, the Constitution must be amended. And this can only happen once there is a move to end the Constitution.
The quandary of Congress is now how to amend the barangay law and the further postponement of the barangay elections.
“Abangan,” as the saying goes.
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Because of space constraints, I failed to mention these other billionaires, whom I know personally, who are in the list of 14 Filipinos in the Forbes list.
One of them is John Gokongwei, a Cebu trader, who went into diversified businesses and became one of the largest conglomerates.
The other billionaire I know personally is David Consunji, who prospered in his construction business, and then diversified into mining, property development and power.
The third is my good friend Manny Villar, who has housing projects nationwide, now also going into power and other diversified businesses.
There are the Ayalas—Jaime and Fernando—who are well-known in banking, land development and property development and diversified businesses.
There’s also the husband and wife team of Lucio Co and his wife, Susan, who were my friends when they were struggling. Now, they are in retail and banking.
Finally, there are the Aboitizes, who are low-profile, but known to be billionaires in power, banking and so many other businesses.
All these billionaires have one common denominator. They know their corporate social responsibility. May their tribe increase.
