CPP Information Bureau propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jul 18):
Local revolutionary formations spurn ‘localized peace talks’Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
18 July 2018
Press Release
Updated on July 19: Added statements by the NPA-Ilocos Cordillera, NPA-Southern Tagalog (with separate statements from NPA-Laguna, NPA-Batangas, and NPA-Palawan), NDFP-Mindoro, and by the NDFP-Central Visayas. More and more regional committees of the CPP, field commands of the NPA and local revolutionary formations have issued separate statements firmly rejecting and condemning the Duterte regime’s so-called “localized” peace talks. These declarations are clear indications that Duterte’s localized peace talks are set to fail.
Revolutionary forces across the country at various levels belie claims by Duterte officials that the rejection of the sham localized talks came only from peace negotiators of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) based in The Netherlands, and not from forces on the ground. These statements are virtual slaps on the face of Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Local revolutionary forces echo the earlier statement issued by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denouncing Duterte’s local peace talks which smokescreen its total war against the people and widespread military abuses under Mindanao martial law and Oplan Kapayapaan. They also point out how such pretend talks will fail in their respective areas.
This outpouring of rejections came after Malacañang repeatedly defended its plan to issue an executive order for localized peace talks in order to pretend to be for peace after having terminated formal negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP.
RejectionsThe following are highlights of statements issued by various local revolutionary forces:
In Northern Luzon.
The NPA-Venerando Villacillo Command (NPA-VVC) in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces explained that localized peace talks will not resolve the root of the armed conflict. “Only the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, armed state forces, intelligence units, local elite and foreign imperialist capitalists would benefit from localized peace talks,” NPA-VVC said. The 5th ID based in Gamu, Isabela province is the primary AFP unit operating in most parts of Northern Luzon.
Martin Montana, spokesperson of the NPA-Ilocos-Cordillera Region (Chadli Molintas Command) also rejected the localized peace talk offer, saying that the recent attacks against revolutionary forces in their area are part of the scheme to force them to accept the spurious deal. “All forces of the NPA in our region strongly believe that local talks will not resolve the root causes of poverty, which are also the root causes of the continuing civil war in the Philippines,” Montana said, adding that NPA forces in Ilocos and Cordillera are determined to intensify the fight against forces of the reactionary state.
The Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF) also said that their forces will not participate in any localized peace talks with the reactionary government.
CPDF spokesperson Simon Naogsan declared: “Among Cordillerans, national oppression is perpetrated by the reactionary state ruled by big landlords, comprador bourgeoisie and US imperialism. We cannot expect these problems to be answered by local governments.” He also expressed unequivocable support for the negotiating panel of the NDFP in its representation of all revolutionary forces in national level negotiations with the GRP.
In Southern Tagalog Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of the NPA-Melito Glor Command of Southern Tagalog, asserted that no localized peace talks will occur in their region, adding that the proposal peddled by the US-Duterte regime and the warfreak generals of the AFP and PNP brazenly disregards past negotiations signed by the GRP and the NDFP. He expressed full support for the NDFP Negotiating Panel and denounced the Duterte regime for questioning the role of Jose Maria Sison as Chief Political Consultant.
Magdalena Kalayaan, spokesperson of the NPA-Cesar Batralo Command in Laguna said that “the people of Laguna can trust that the NPA in this province will not only defeat the treacherous local talk scheme but also persevere in intensifying the people’s war to achieve the people’s yearnings and interests.”
Apolinario Matienza, spokesperson of the NPA-Eduardo Dagli Command in Batangas dubbed the localize peace talks move as a “trap aimed at splitting the revolutionary forcs and discredit the NDFP as the legitimate representative in peace negotiations at the national level,” but stressed that “not a single NPA unit” under their command will participate in the bogus talks.
Likewise, Salvador Luminoso, spokesperson of the NPA-Bienvenido Vallever Command in Palawan stressed that no localized peace negotiation will take place between the GRP and the revolutionary forces in Palawan as it will only be a “waste of time.”
The NDFP-Mindoro meanwhile said the 203rd Bde and the PNP-MIMAROPA have started to mobilize barangay officials along the aim of holding ‘localized peace talks.” Despite said initial moves, the NDFP-Mindoro said that the bogus local talks are sure to fail. It called on the NPA to mount tactical offensives which would send a clear message to Duterte: “You are doomed to fail.”
In Bicol
The NPA-Celso Minguez Command (NPA-CMC) in Sorsogon dubbed the Duterte regime’s localized peace talks as a “deceptive offer.” Samuel Guerrero, NPA-CMC spokesperson, explained that the Duterte regime is pushing for these deceptive talks to hide the fact that it does not really plan to finalize and sign the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) which addresses the fundamental people’s demands for genuine land reform and national industrialization. He added that “the people of Sorsogon will not be deceived by the renewed schemes of Duterte and his armed forces…” Guerrero maintained the NPA-CMC will never participate in these bogus talks.
In the Visayas
NDFP-Negros Island spokesperson Frank Fernandez said in peddling localized peace talks, Duterte is “playing blind to the every day struggles of Filipinos” and showing indifference to the dire conditions of the Filipino people “that are not exclusive to individual communities” but prevail across the nation. Fernandez maintained that the revolutionary forces in Negros reject the localized peace talks as these are only designed to “smokescreen the brutal and ruthless all-out war that has beset the country and divert attention from Duterte’s unwillingness to pursue agrarian reform, national industrialization and national sovereignty.”
Concha Araneta, NDFP-Panay spokesperson, stressed that not one region has been – or will ever be – enticed and fooled by the reactionary regime to hold peace talks at the regional, provincial, city or municipal level. “NDF-Panay and all revolutionary forces in the region totally reject any call for local peace talks with the local bureaucracy or any other entity blessed by the anti-peace liar and chief fascist representative of the ruling class in the country.”
Hope Bondoc, NDFP-Central Visayas spokesperson, meanwhile described the Duterte regime’s moves for localized peace talks as “additional evidence exhibiting Duterte’s true intentions of pursuing total war against the Filipino people instead of genuine and lasting peace.” She said Duterte’s engagement in peace negotiations with the NDFP “was mere dilly-dallying to buy time until he can consolidate his regime,” Bondoc added.
In Southern Mindanao
NDFP-Southern Mindanao Spokesperson Rubi del Mundo said localized peace talks are being rejected by revolutionary forces in Southern Mindanao, from where Duterte himself came from. “It is nothing but a hollow attempt to draw a veil over the ravages of Martial Law in Mindanao and the escalating bloodbath of Oplan Kapayapaan affecting millions of civilians in the country,” del Mundo said. “In advocating for localized peace talks, Duterte, in truth, appeals to the corrupt nature of his fellow bureaucrat capitalists by encouraging them to subvert previously agreed-upon guidelines and machineries and the advances borne out of the past 25 years.”
Futile move
This barrage of rejections will continue as other regional and local commands and formations of the CPP, NPA, and NDFP are set to issue their own statements. All these statements affirm that all revolutionary forces under the leadership of the CPP – from Luzon to Mindanao– reject this pretend ‘localized’ peace talks.”
We repeat: The broad masses demand not ‘local peace talks’ but an end to Duterte’s total war against civilians, the aerial bombings, the military occupation of communities, the sham campaign of forcing people to enlist as “surrenderers,” widespread killings and other abuses. The people are being roused to arms by Duterte’s Oplan Kapayapaan.
Pursuing pretend localized peace talks is a futile move as these talks are set to completely fail. Even Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City has given up on her pet project of local peace talks knowing how foolish she would appear talking to her own shadow. Her father’s regime should see how foolish his government is in relentlessly pursuing this patently stupid act.
