CNN Philippines (Metro Manila, December 20) – The Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday denied having a supposed “hit list,” saying that National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is only planning to “sabotage” the peace talks between the government and militant groups.
READ: 131 lawmakers urge Duterte to resume peace talks with NDFP
“[Esperon’s] hype of an alleged ‘NPA hit list’ only aims to sow intrigue in order to sabotage the planned resumption of formal peace talks,” CPP said in a statement.
“Together with fellow peace antagonists Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense and DILG’s Eduardo Año, Esperon is adamant in adhering to GRP President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement to resume the peace negotiations with the NDFP,” the communist group said.
CPP noted that instead, it is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who tag activists and progressives to their “infamous orders of battle.”
“It is the regime’s death squads in the military and police who have killed close to 300 peasants, workers, indigenous peoples, human rights workers, journalists, lawyers and other democratic forces in the last three years,” the statement read.
The group alleged that just last week, farmer Paterno Casos Sr. and his son Dino, who was an amputee on crutches, were “mercilessly killed” in Laak, Compostela Valley–one of the alleged cases of Esperon’s “vicious campaign of murder.”
On Tuesday, Esperon claimed that communist rebels are supposedly plotting assassinations and terror activities against high-ranking government officials in time for CCP’s 51st founding anniversary on December 26.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate on Friday warned against “saboteurs” who might derail the progress of peace talks between the Duterte administration and communist groups.
A total of 131 congressmen signed a House resolution pushing for the resumption of negotiatons between both parties.
