Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) — National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has thrown his support behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to end peace talks with the New People’s Army.
Esperon cited continuing violent acts by the rebel group as basis to say they were not sincere in pursing peace with the government. He said despite resumption of peace efforts with the NPA, there were violations committed by the group.
“Hindi mo talaga mabigyan ng ceasefire ang mga ito [You cannot give them a ceasefire],” he said, adding that he and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza, along with other members of the security sector, have long recommended the cessation of peace talks.
Esperon said the President’s recent statement was a reiteration of the position he took in November 2017.
In a nationwide address on Monday, Duterte ended peace efforts with the rebels, saying the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) “does not respect” its own pledge to carry out a ceasefire.
“There are no more peace talks to talk about,” the President said in a taped message. “I am not and will never be ready for any round of talks.”
This came in the wake of reports that two Philippine Army soldiers were gunned down by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora Province a week ago. The slain soldiers, identified as Pfc. Ken Lester Sasapan and Pfc. Jackson Mallari, were reportedly guarding the distribution of government aid to communities under quarantine when they were ambushed.
“It is a sad thing to know na ‘yung mga sundalo ko pinagpapatay [that my soldiers are being killed], while even doing the most honorable task of accompanying the government workers delivering money and food,” Duterte said.
“The NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines have no respect either for their spoken words or in their deeds of killing soldiers who are on humanitarian missions,” he added.
