Sinabi kahapon ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na isusulong nila ang usapang pangkapayapaan kasunod ng banta ni Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison na wala nang mangyayaring peace talks at patatalsikin na lang sa puwesto si Pangulong Duterte.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Lorenzana na hindi nabibigo si Sison na pahangain siya lalo na sa mga isyu hinggil sa usapang pangkapayapaan.

“He begs for peace talks and a ceasefire, and now he turns around to say that they will no longer negotiate with this government and threatens to destabilize the administration,” sabi ni Lorenzana.

“Mr. Sison, in response to your childish tantrums we will vigorously pursue the ongoing localized peace talks. I am sure that once you are out of the picture, true peace will have a chance to become a reality and you will be consigned to the dustbin of history,” dagdag ng kalihim.Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Lorenzana na tanging usapang pangkapayapaan ang nagpapasikat kay Sison.

“Without it you are irrelevant. You also know that the President can terminate the talks, and this is why you are desperately using reverse psychology and intimidation to save it,” sambit ni Lorenzana.Samantala, hinikayat ni Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate si Pangulong Duterte na sagipin ang peace negotiations.

“The possible eventual withdrawal of the NDFP from the peace talks will be very unfortunate. Indeed, no self-respecting party would like to continue talking with an administration that does not take the process seriously and whose main objective is not to solve the root causes of the decades-old rebellion but only the capitulation and surrender of its adversary,” pahayag ni Zarate.

-Francis Wakefield at Ellson Quismorio