Peace talks with Reds a waste of time- Eleazar
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will not support any move to revive the peace talks with the communist rebels amid calls from some groups for the government and the rebel group to go back to the negotiating table after the series of attacks carried out in the past days that include a roadside bombing that left a college football player and his cousin dead.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said the revival of the peace talks is just a waste time as what happened repeatedly in the past wherein past administrations would always fail to strike a peace deal with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“Napakaraming beses na nagkaroon ng pag-uusap at lumalabas na ang gobyerno pa nga ang laging dehado dahil matapos mapakawalan ang mga lider ng CPP-NPA-NDF na pinaghirapang hulihin as a gesture of sincerity, wala ring nangyayari (There were repeated attempts before but the government would always end up on the losing end because after releasing some of the leaders arrested as a gesture of sincerity, nothing would happen),” said Eleazar.
The PNP statement is in support of President Duterte’s stand to stop all the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF. In his interview on Tuesday night at SMNI, President Duterte had said he no longer wants peace talks with the communist rebels because of their arrogance.
Eleazar stressed that the police organization and all other State forces want peace but the concept is alien to the CPP/NPA/NDF.
He added: “The PNP is for the attainment of genuine peace in the country but this group will never embrace the concept of peace. So, what’s the point of talking peace with them again?”
The CPP-NPA has taken full responsibility for the Masbate City landmine that killed cousins Kieth and Nolven Absalon. State forces are now conducting pursuit operations against the suspects.
Aside from the Masbate City incident, there were also attacks perpetrated by members of the NPA in Quezon Province and in the Bicol region.
Eleazar has directed all police units and offices to be on full alert in anticipation of intensified attacks by the communist rebels.