AFP welcomes Duterte stopping back channel talks with Reds

July 20, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines welcomes the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the back channel talks with the communist group unless they stop attacks and extortion. “We welcome the pronouncement of the commander-in-chief. Indeed it’s a futile effort to continue to talk peace with a group like the (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front) CPP/NPA/NDF whose members continue get money from people and senselessly killed our soldiers that defend and protect the people,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs chief, said Thursday. The AFP issued their statement after Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced the cancellation of the back channel talks with the communist group on Wednesday amid the series of attacks made by the rebels. “The Armed Forces have been supporting, is supporting and will continue to support the president,” said Arevalo. “The citizenry know very well that the AFP has been open and very supportive in government efforts in all its projects yearning to achieve lasting peace and spur development in the countryside, but with the recent developments, all of these are indicators of the CPP/NPAs propensity to take advantage in crucial situations just like this in order for them to perpetrate their ends,” he added. Arevalo said the AFP is also questioning the sincerity of the communist group on the peace negotiation as the rebels continue its extortion and violent activities. “They have never been sincere in talking peace with government. Clearly, the NPA has no intention to genuinely pursue peace negotiations but merely to buy time and consolidate, to recruit and beef up its ranks,” he said. “They have no plans of stopping extorting enormous sums of money from companies that provide livelihood to our people or else burn the companies’ farm implements,” he added. Arevalo said attacks by the NPA rebels against the government forces coincide with the fighting in Marawi. “At this time that the AFP is combating Maute-Isis terrorist group they are attacking soldiers who are neither on combat operations or law enforcement operations,” he said. “The members of the Presidential Security (PSG) for instance were not there to hunt them. It is lamentable just to create the impression that they are still relevant they will resort to vicious atrocities just like this at a time that confidence building measures is the course of action to save the peace talks,” he added. (Robina Asido/DMS)