Joma's last card

OUR Armed Forces should learn from the history of war, peace negotiations and treachery. In fact, we need not go far. In the many instances of bilateral truce ostensibly to allow talks to follow, there had been scores of treacherous attacks. Rebellion has become a euphemism to terrorism and our government forces should bear in mind that armed elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New Peoples Army - are not bound by any rules of engagements. When the guards are down, like when the government declared a truce, they strike at every opportunity open to them.

 

Senator Ping Lacson is correct in saying that Jose Ma. Sison, who is aging and debilitating in the comfort of his abode in the Netherlands, had become irrelevant to the NPAs. And indeed there is rational to the proven strategy of proceeding with localized peace negotiations for it had resulted in stable peace.

 

Many of the genuine rebels have come home and there are many out there who are just waiting for the opportunity to return to the folds of the law. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has scored victories without firing a shot by just assuring the returnees lands to till and other opportunities for a normal life.

 

That is for the government to consider. On the other hand, whoever is still having the fantasy of overthrowing the government or even sharing the power to govern is better off forgetting the idea. Not only has the ideology become banal the government forces have adequate military hardware and firepower armed conflict could be brief and bloody.

 

But I do not think the President will unleash that might. This is the nth time he sent an emissary, Sec. Bebot Bello, to offer still another chance to Joma Sison to come home and talk peace. While Duterte has the patience, Sison should not be lulled into believing that that is inexhaustible.

 

His last card is in the hands of Duterte.