Mamamayani ang tensiyon kapag bumalik sa negotiation table ang Philippine Government (GRP) at ang National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) para sa ikalimang round ng formal peace talks sa Noordwijk Ann-see, The Netherlands.
Ito ay kasunod ng tahasang pagkondena ni GRP Peace Panel Chairman Silvestre Bello III sa utos na ibinigay nitong Miyerkules ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) na humihimok sa New People’s Army (NPA) na paigtingin ang “revolutionary armed struggle” pagkatapos magdeklara si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ng martial law sa Mindanao.
“We are deeply disturbed that the CPP made a false reading of the intents of President Duterte in placing Mindanao under Martial Law. The circumstances that precipitated, and the condition that warranted such declaration were matters of public knowledge,” saad sa pahayag ni Bello kahapon.
“There was a need to restore law and order, protect the lives of the citizens, and preserve private and state properties,” paliwanag ni Bello.
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Binigyang-diin ng concurrent Labor Secretary na ang order ni Duterte sa pagsasailalim sa Mindanao sa military rule ay bunsod ng pag-atake ng extremist na Maute Group sa Marawi City at doon ay kumuha ng mga bihag at nanunog ng mga establisimiyento nitong Martes.
“The President, in no uncertain terms, categorically declared he was not after the New People’s Army. He, in fact, reiterated his keenness on pursuing peace. We therefore find the CPP directive to the NPA to intensify attacks as totally misplaced borne out of a grossly distorted appreciation of the President’s intention,” ani Bello.
“At worse, it betrays the absence of sincerity of the CPP (on) the negotiating table,” dagdag niya.
Pinuna ni Bello ang direktiba ng CPP sa NPA “as totally misplaced (and) borne out of a grossly distorted appreciation of the President’s intention.”
“At the very least, it was an insult to the candor and genuineness displayed by the President and the GRP Panel in talking peace,” sabi pa ni Belo. (Rocky G. Nazareno at Antonio L. Colina IV)
