MANILA -- Malacañang on Wednesday described the 50-year insurgency of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as a “failed rebellion” noting that its founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison, is “out of touch” with reality.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Sison, in an interview over ANC on the day of CPP’s 50th anniversary, said the CPP-NPA remains relevant and would strengthen efforts to oust the President through its revolutionary movement.
“The 50 years of Joma Sison's rebellion speaks for itself. It's a failed rebellion. It only resulted in the loss of lives of Filipinos especially the numerous young students who were killed in ambushes, skirmishes, battles and in sickness in the hills, who could have served their country well in pacific and productive means, as well as the destruction of properties,” Panelo said.
Panelo also said that many communist rebels were already laying down their arms and surrendering while Sison remained in exile in the Netherlands since 1987.
“The NPA surrenderers are coming in droves responding to the call of the government to return to the fold of the law, while Mr. Sison remains ensconced in his ivory tower of comfort and luxury while his comrades die for a lost cause,” Panelo said.
“No wonder the forces on the ground no longer follow him hence his regular rants against PRRD to give himself the appearance of relevance,” he added.
Panelo, meanwhile, encouraged Sison to also surrender before he becomes too weak to do so stressing that it was an honorable act to accomplish.
“It's time for him to wave the white flag before his physique gives up on him. There is honor in returning back to a democratic society and embracing the constitutional order,” Panelo said.
Panelo said it's “not too late” for Sison to embrace the rule of law and the majority and wished Sison well, in the spirit of Christmas.
“In the spirit of Christmas, we still wish him well and pray that he be blessed with inner peace and enlightenment,” Panelo said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered his troops to “destroy” the Reds, firm in his decision not to subscribe to their five-day holiday ceasefire declaration.
“We do not subscribe to their ceasefire, we are ready for anything. Change your paradigm, do not fight them, destroy them. Destroy them, kill them,” Duterte said in a speech at Camp General Manuel Yan Sr. in Compostela Valley.
Duterte has terminated peace talks the CPP-NPA, tagged by the US as terrorists, as they continued to commit abuses and demand for a coalition government.
Instead, through Executive Order No. 70, a national task force will be created to formulate a National Peace Framework anchored on the "whole-of-nation" approach which prioritizes the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitates societal inclusivity, and ensures active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country's peace agenda. (PNA)
