Presidential daughter says no to peace talks with communists

DAVAO CITY – Presidential daughter and mayor of Davao City, Sara Carpio, has appealed Friday to his father, Rodrigo Duterte, not to reopen stalled peace talks with communist insurgents, blamed for many attacks in her hometown, and branding the rebel group as terrorist.

Duterte, who previously trashed the peace talks with rebels following deadly attacks in the restive region in the past, has revived negotiations in an effort to put an end to bloodshed to the world’s longest-running insurgency.  The New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging decades of bloody separatist war, and previously demanded a coalition government from Duterte who flatly rejected this.

A screenshot from Davao City Government Facebook page.

“Respectfully, I am asking President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to reopen the negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. I believe the insurgency problem can only be ended peacefully if the NDFP and the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, are sincere, honest, and committed to working toward the direction of peace and reciprocate the gesture offered by the government. But there are no indications at all that they are willing to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Carpio said.

Rebel forces had recently raided Davao City and torched heavy equipment used in government infrastructure projects in three areas there. And also launched a spate of daring and deadly raids and even challenged Duterte to stop them.

“History will also tell us that the communist movement is not to be trusted as they have consistently shown us their deep-seated proclivity to sow hate, violence and extremism, destruction, and senseless killings. These are groups motivated by the desire to overthrow the government and rule the nation. For them, peace is not an option. And that’s because they are terrorists,” Carpio said.

She said the government should not negotiate with terrorists or deal tough with the rebels and cited the murders of innocent civilians, including a baby, in attacks perpetrated by the NPA.

“We maintain our position that we are not supposed to negotiate with terrorists, but deal with them the way we should — tough, strong, high intensity, and one that gathers all sectors to completely crush their influence in communities where they are present.”

“Let us not forget Larry Buenafe, the fish vendor who died because the NPA detonated a landmine in Mandug last year. Let us not forget Larry’s two very young children now growing without a father — and the many other orphaned children of other hapless, mostly poor civilians. Let us not forget the orphaned children of our brave soldiers and police officers killed by the NPAs in the name of a rusty ideology and deranged revolution. And how could we possibly forget Malysha Machorao who died after an NPA ambush in Bukidnon last year. She was only 4-months-old,” she said.

Carpio said the latest rebel attacks in Davao City stalled infrastructure projects that should have benefitted poor communities there.

“We should put a stop into the insanity of these terrorists — or more children will be orphaned, more civilians will be killed, more soldiers will die, and many more facilities and equipment will be burned, setting back development by a hundred years.”

“If talks are revived, we are almost certain that the NPAs will continue to terrorize government forces and civilians. They will discharge offensives and unabated destruction, while recruitment of minors, farmers, lumads, workers, and students would continue courtesy of its legal fronts,” she said.

Carpio said the country will move forward if the government is able to eliminate the rebels and end their senseless rebellion. “Just like a battered lover, there is a time to finally say no to pain and suffering. No to peace talks,” she said. “While I trust the wisdom of the President and his intention to end the insurgency problem peacefully, I believe pursuing peace talks with the NDFP, CPP and NPA is counterproductive and plainly useless.” 

“We should stop rewarding these terrorists with our attention, resources, and time. Suspending the peace talks would not only mean ending the delusion of these terrorists, but would also allow the realization of long-delayed growth and the development of our countryside villages. It also means giving justice to the victims of these terrorists,” she said.

There were no immediate reactions from either Duterte or the NDFP on Carpio’s statement. (Mindanao Examiner)

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