PEACE TALKS TO COST A LEG AND AN ARM

The cat is finally out of the bag. The National Democratic Front which fronts as the negotiator for the Communist Party of the Philippines in an on again-off again peace talk with the government is a narcissistic organization. First, they demanded the reinstatement of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) which the government subsequently acquiesced to and granted on July 17. In response to this, the armed unit of the CPP, the New People’s Army, attacked an Isuzu Canter truck in Toboso, Negros Occidental promptly killing three young civilians and wounding several others. Second, they demanded the unconditional release from jail of twelve incarcerated so-called NDF consultants who were all facing criminal charges and which the government satisfied by granting freedom to first Elizabeth Principe on July 21 and later to Randall Echaniz. And now, they are demanding an investigation on the alleged disappearance of 13 rebel consultants as a confidence-building measure from the government.

Ordinary observers would even agree that recent developments into the hanging peace talks are all to the CPP’s advantage, what with its leadership doing all the demanding and the government doing all the giving all in the name of this so-called confidence building measures. Despite granting the CPP’s wishes, it was recently discovered that there have been no letup in NPA-initiated atrocities in various parts of the country since the JASIG was lifted. Just recently, a 40-strong NPA group burned two trucks owned and used by DOLE-Stanfilco in hauling bananas in Sitio Surigaonon in Barangay Camanlangan in Tagum City while another group composed of 50 rebels attacked a CAFGU camp in Barangay Cancaiyas in Catbalogan City, mortally wounding a civilian in the process.

Aside from these attacks, the NPAs have also consistently killed civilians for no apparent reason. Their most recent victim include a President of the Barangay Defense System, Dominasio Abrera, of Barangay Cumadcad in Castilla, Sorsogon who was killed on August 29, 2009.

The peace talks should not be all for the taking of the CPP. They, too, should give something in return. They too should show some level of sincerity and effort in calling for the resumption of peace negotiations with the government. They have already demanded and were given a lot and now it should be the government’s turn to ask.

CIVILIANS IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL KILLED BY NPA "An Insight to NPA Cruelty"

In the early morning of July 13, 2009, passengers of an Isuzu Canter truck got the surprise of their lives when 30 fully armed NPA rebels swooped down from their hiding places and indiscriminately fired high-powered firearms at their vehicle. The group came from Barangay Salamanca in Toboso in the province of Negros Occidental and was on their way to town when they were waylaid by the rebels. Instantly killed during the attack were Rodolfo Salipod, the vehicle's driver, Ena Pata and high school student Edmar Sultan while three others identified as Eryl Baynosa, Ivy Recopelacion and Primitivo Lumapay were wounded. Lumapay who was merely a bystander is now in critical condition.

The incident came after Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni and Fidel Agcaoili deliberately sought out the government for a possible resumption of peace negotiations between the GRP and the National Democratic Front which represents the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ironically, backchannel talks were already held in The Netherlands on June 15, 2009 together with government representatives Nieves Confesor and Atty Segfrey Candelaria. As a goodwill gesture, the GRP panel agreed to officially lift the suspension of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG on July 17.

The government has already proffered a goodwill gesture but the CPP is yet to prove their sincerity in seeking out the government. However, with the latest attack, one cannot help but question their sincerity and the CPP leadership’s ability to forestall any violent incursions from their armed rebel group in the countryside. How can we be sure that they will stick to their end of the bargain if as early as now we are already given an insight to their cruelty and their capacity to do dastardly acts that randomly victimizes innocent civilians such as students and mere bystanders? There should be give and take on this highly important matter and should not only be all take from the CPP.

What assurance can the CPP leadership give to us Filipinos, and our government, to make us all believe that they are now genuinely sincere in their desire for peace? For one thing, a cessation of all hostilities against soldiers outside the battle fields and their attacks on innocent civilians and private establishments would be a great start and a great proof to offer.

The CPP should not only be all talk and no action. The CPP leaders should be challenged to direct their subordinates to at least temporarily halt all kinds of atrocities in the country and for the time being lie low from attacking us civilians and from implementing their forceful ways on us. That alone will be a big enough proof for us.