Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 26) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is skeptical of rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) despite peace talks between the government and the left.
The lack of trust comes from attacks on government troops following the imposition of martial law in Mindanao, AFP Public Affairs Chief Edgard Arevalo said Monday.
“Pagpapakita lamang ito ng insensitivity, insincerity on their part. Kung ang gusto talaga nila ay kapayapaan, samantala ang ating bansa ay abala sa pagharap sa hamon sa rebelde at terorista sa Marawi, dapat sana kung hindi man sila tumulong, ay dapat… bigyan lang man nila ng puwang ang ating pamahalaan na gawin ito,” Arevalo told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: This just shows insensitivity, insincerity on their part. If they truly want peace, while our country is preoccupied with facing rebels and terrorists in Marawi, they should help… and give the government the space to work (towards peace).]
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which is represented by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in peace talks with government. On June 17, the NDFP urged the NPA to “restrain” from attacking government forces.
Related: NDFP asks NPA to ‘refrain’ from attacking government forces
On June 7, NDFP heeded a call by Duterte to join the fight against terrorism. It sent an instruction for its units near Marawi “to redeploy for the purpose of mopping-up, holding, and blocking operations.”
Government peace panel Chairman Silvestre Bello III has since announced the military also would not launch attacks against the NPA.
Related: Government won’t launch offensives vs. NPA – Bello
But Arevalo also criticized the NPA’s “change of tone,” saying it only led the AFP to dismiss their statement as “propaganda.”
“Pagpapakita ito na kailangan nila magkaroon ng relevance or halaga sa usapan, pagkat naipakita natin, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga aksyon, na hindi natin mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi nilang hangarin nilang pang-kapayapaan,” he added.
[Translation: This just shows they need relevance or value in the discussion, but we’ve seen through their actions that we can’t believe what they say are their dreams for peace.]
