IN 2006 President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched an all-out campaign to put an end to the decades-old insurgency waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed unit, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). Government’s approach would consist of a set of programs and measures—military, police, legal, political, information, diplomatic and most important of all, the equitable delivery of basic social services, especially to disadvantaged sectors in rural areas. These were meant to address the insurgency in terms of its ideological-military aspect, including its socioeconomic root causes. The move didn’t take off.
A decade later, President Duterte, after taking office in June 2016, reopened peace talks with the communist rebels. Optimism prevailed when the Chief Executive released captured rebel leaders so they could participate in the peace talks, and both sides had called separate cease-fires to pave the way for peace negotiations in Utrecht, Netherlands, where CPP founder Jose Maria Sison exiled himself. Most everyone cheered was the President’s decision to appoint National Democratic Front (NDF) nominees to his Cabinet, which signals Duterte’s aspiration for lasting peace.
Unfortunately, Duterte angrily called off peace talks with the communist rebels last year after they killed soldiers in a series of attacks. The President specifically cited the death of a 4-month-old baby in an ambush by the NPA in Bukidnon as one of the major reasons that pushed him to close the door to peace negotiations.
In signing Proclamation 360, declaring the termination of talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF, Duterte said the communists failed to show their sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peace negotiations as they engaged in acts of violence and hostilities, even as the government continued to exert its best efforts to accelerate the signing and implementation of a final peace agreement.
Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said: “The President, as we all know, has always wanted to leave a legacy of peace under his administration. He has, in fact, walked the extra mile for peace. Rest assured that he will continuously pray that we may all find the peace that we seek for our beloved country in the fullness of God’s time.”
Duterte’s proclamation, signed in pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 10168, or the Human Security Act, officially declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization. This means that, under the law, affiliate revolutionary groups of the CPP-NPA would now also be considered terrorist groups, and anyone proven to be financing them would be held liable. “Take note that the domestic statute and the United Nations Security Council prohibit the giving of funds to terrorist organizations. This will enable law-enforcement agencies to run after individuals who will, in any way, provide financial support to the NPA now that it has been described as a terrorist organization,” Roque said.
Despite the strong clamor from all sectors for the peace talks to continue, indications point to more gun battles, instead. However, those who want lasting peace to finally prevail must continue praying that the President and the CPP-NPA won’t close back-channel meetings between government negotiators and the rebel leaders to clear obstacles to the resumption of peace negotiations.