Umaasa si Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto na maipatutupad ang ptigil-putukan bago mag-Mahal na Araw makaraang magkasundo ang gobyerno at ang Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) na ipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan.
“Whether unilaterally declared or mutually agreed, the people will welcome a break from fighting,” saad sa pahayag kahapon ni Recto. “If their time frame of brokering a ceasefire before April will be met, the peace negotiators couldn’t have picked a better time.”
Abril 9 ang Linggo ng Palaspas, ang simula ng isang-linggong Kuwaresma, na magtatapos sa Abril 16, Easter Sunday.
Aniya, magandang oportunidad ang pagpapairal ng tigil-putukan ngayong Semana Santa para makasama ng mga sundalo at mga rebelde ang kani-kanilang pamilya.
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“Our people have spoken loud and clear: we need to stop this violence. I am glad that negotiators from the GRP and the NDF stood firm and defied the odds to bring peace back to our land,” paliwanag ni Recto. “If there is one lesson learned in this negotiation, it is useless to talk peace if both sides continue to shoot at each other. Let the hawks take a rest.”
TODO-ALERTO PA RIN
Kaugnay nito, nananatiling nasa pinakamataas na alerto ang Philippine National Police (PNP) kahit pa naihayag nang magpapatuloy ang peace talks at isusulong ang bilateral ceasefire sa mga rebelde sa susunod na buwan.
Sinabi ni Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, tagapagsalita ng PNP, na bahagi ng kanilang pagsisikap ang maging parte ng puwersa ng gobyerno na magbabantay at magbibigay ng proteksiyon sa mahahalagang pasilidad ng pamahalaan sa mga lugar na ginugulo ng NPA.
“The Philippine National Police maintains high state of active defense in support of tactical operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to protect urban centers, communities, vital infrastructures, public property and civilian population against possible hostilities of the New People’s Army,” ani Carlos.
“The announcement of the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the CPP-NPA notwithstanding, the PNP shall continue to maintain this high state of active defense and operational readiness, until further ordered,” dagdag niya.
Ilang araw bago kumpirmahin ng mga opisyal ng pamahalaan ang pagpapatuloy ng peace talks, apat na pulis ang nasawi at isa ang nasugatan sa pananambang ng NPA sa Davao del Sur.
“We welcome any initiative that promotes durable and lasting peace, but we will not allow any compromise with public safety and internal security,” diin pa ni Carlos. (LEONEL M. ABASOLA at AARON B. RECUENCO)
