MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is duty-bound to support the pronouncement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana calling for the termination of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF).
This was disclosed by AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Tuesday afternoon.
"We, the AFP, (as) part of the Department of National Defense, will recommend to the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to terminate the peace talks with the CPP-NDF led by Jose Maria "Joma" Sison. We advanced this position because of the eight reasons as already released to you by the Secretary of National Defense (Delfin Lorenzana)," he added.
Despite this pronouncement, Arevalo said that this does not mean that the AFP is against peace negotiations, stressing that it is supportive of peace process that is transparent, genuine, and sincere.
"A peace talk that embodies the desire of our people to put an end to all this fighting so that peace and progress can come in," he added.
Also, the AFP spokesperson chided Sison for pushing peace negotiations to enable the rebels to do the "4Rs" which the military defines as regroup, refurbish, recruit and recover lost grounds.
"Hindi ang peace process na pinapaboran ng CPP-NDF. Nadiskubre natin, na nabanggit na from recovered documents and statements ng mga sumuko sa atin ang duplicity ni Mr. Sison and his ilk (We do not favor the peace process being pushed by the CPP-NDF. We discovered the duplicity of Mr. Sison and his ilk from recovered documents and statements of rebel surrenderers.) The peace talks espoused by Mr. Sison and his coterie is only a ploy for their cadres and militias to do the 4Rs, regroup, refurbish, recruit and recover lost grounds," Arevalo said.
Also, the AFP spokesperson said that while the rebels were involved in peace negotiations, this did not stop them from hatching plans to oust President Duterte.
"They hatched this plan while the government negotiating panel was in Norway, talking to Mr. Sison, Jalandoni, Tiamzon and et al. These communist terrorists do not only engage us (with) double-talk, they actually want to double-cross us. We say, we want peace in the strict sense of the word, and if ever peace negotiations will be held, this is to clarify our position, we support localized peace talks where local government deals directly with these communist terrorists and their members with the assistance of the AFP and other agencies of government," he added. (PNA)
