Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — The Marcos administration should not reopen peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), amid clashes between rebels and government forces in Masbate, Vice President Sara Duterte said Thursday.
\”Negotiating with the NDFP is always doomed to fail… The Masbate violence does not highlight the need for the resumption of the peace talks. It highlights the need for our collective effort as a nation to protect our learners from threats brought by groups like the NPA,\” she said, referring to the military arm of the CPP.
Clashes between government forces and communist rebels happened near schools in Masbate municipalities, leaving students and teachers traumatized.
Police presence was increased in areas with armed conflicts. Face-to-face classes for elementary and secondary schools have been suspended in some towns.
READ:
No blanket class suspension amid clashes in Masbate, DepEd orders
Gov’t to increase police visibility in Masbate schools amid clashes
Duterte, concurrent education secretary, made her statement in reaction to ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro’s call for an investigation on the Masbate clashes.
\”They are indeed condemnable and an independent probe should be conducted by forensic experts and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to see the real perpetrators of the gun firing near the schools,\” Castro said.
The lawmaker said conflict highlighted the need for the resumption of peace talks between the government and NDFP \”to address the root causes of the armed conflict.\”
On the other hand, Duterte said, \”Castro’s assertion that the peace negotiations would address the root causes of the armed conflict was ludicrous. Instead, it would only give legitimacy to the absurdity of the terrorism perpetrated by the armed wing of the NDFP, the NPA.\”
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, father of Sara Duterte, terminated peace talks with the CPP in 2017.
On March 29, the CPP marked its 54th year and called on the NPA to continue its armed struggle. This was its first anniversary after the death of party founder Joma Sison on Dec. 17, 2022.
