Communist rebels should put a stop to their attacks if they are really sincere in reviving the peace talks with the government, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the New People’s Army ambush in Eastern Samar last Friday puts into question the sincerity of the group to jumpstart the talks. A policeman and a 69-year-old woman were killed and several others were injured in the attack.
“Siyempre ayaw natin iyon. Iyong mga NPAs kung gusto talaga nilang makipag-usap eh dapat tigilan na nila iyong ginagawa nila,” Panelo said. “Kasi when you do that, your sincerity is in question with respect to peace talks,” he added.
The attack occurred just days after President Duterte sent Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to talk to communist rebel leader Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands on the possible revival of the peace talks.
Asked how the impact of the attack on plans to resume the peace talks, Panelo said: “Let us see how it will affect the proposed peace talks.”
The President is expected to consider the recommendation of the top defense officials on whether or not to declare a holiday truce with the rebels.
Panelo noted that Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have opposed such truce with the rebels. “I think both of them are against it. And usually the President defers to whatever recommendation those people on the ground give him,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
