By Erik Espina
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte recently initiated “a small window” for the re-opening of peace talks with the 49-year old subversive, turned terrorist, CPP-NPA-NDF group. A limited attempt at a tantalizing prospect of reviving a sclerotic process made difficult by the very group, who has and will, predictably never reform their hardened stand on communism. This, despite the rest of the world moving forward with European trends on socialism. The resumption of peace talks is limited to 60 days. The terms and conditions set by the President for said truculent hardliners: 1) Unilateral cease fire; 2) No extortion in the guise of revolutionary taxes; 3) No raids and burning of private property; 4) Government hosting the peace negotiation, locally.
If past experience is to tutor us, domestic acolytes of communism will never change their colors, nor attempts at bringing down democratic governance with all violent thinking and arsenal at their disposal. Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte’s sober counsel on localized peace talks is exactly the peace initiative worth considering and putting in the front burners. This must be simultaneous with national efforts. While the “Peace Process,” government addressing social, economic and political reforms must be pursued, independent of armed groups dictating the agenda, or lecturing duly elected officials on their disguised totalitarian agenda to commit bloody societal catharsis.
I reflect on lost opportunity for law and order with peace finally restored under President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, had we not been hoodwinked by EDSA 2. This could have been the greatest twin legacy of Erap, with the decapitation of the MILF in Camp Abu Bakr, along with 40 satellite camps. Leading personalities, tail tucked between legs, fleeing to Putra Jaya masters. And the CCP-NPA, as the MILF fate. I recall the Estrada echo warning enemies of the State, “There is only one republic. One flag, one territory. And the AFP is not prohibited entering any part of the Philippines.”
We would have woken-up to a country finally rid of said twin devils versus peace, progress, and national unity.
