Newly-appointed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Thursday, June 8, is opposing government move to engage the communist rebels in peace talks.

“My personal position is no. Matagal ko nang posisyon iyan, noong araw pa (Ever since that’s my position on that). And I think that is the position of the security cluster as of this time, ‘no,” he said when asked if he was open for another peace talks with the group.

“Dahil, unang-una, bukas loob naman ang gobyerno na magbalik sa fold ng law ang lahat ng mga dating kasapi ng CPP-NPA-NDF (Because, first of all, the government is open for their return to the fold of the law—all members of the CPP-NPA-NDF),” he added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) has repeatedly engaged in peace talks with the government through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF).

Peace talks, according to Teodoro, is a version of the country’s democratic process.

“Puwede naman nating pag-usapan iyong mga isyu na iyan sa tamang forum – iyan ay ang Kongreso – at sumanib sila sa legitimate political process. Hindi naman bawal ang CPP eh. Republic ACT 1700 has been repealed long ago. Pero iyong indirect at direct support sa armadong pakikibaka, iyan ang problema (The issue can be discussed in a proper forum—that’s Congress—and they should join the legitimate political process. The CPP is not prohibited. Republic ACT 1700 has been repealed long ago. But the indirect and direct support to armed groups, that’s the problem),” said the DND chief.

“So to me, there’s no such thing as … it’s an oxymoron ‘no, iyong (the) legal front. Walang ligal na front; ang front ay iligal (There’s no legal front; their front is illegal.”

Meanwhile, the DND chief said he is yet to consult with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. regarding the administration’s stand on the proposed resumption of peace talks.

“I have to consult regarding that because the only consultation I had with the President, first and foremost, is to speed up the MUP (military and uniformed personnel) of which I will receive total briefings in the coming days as to what progress has already been done,” he said. 

Asked how the government intends to deal with them, Teodoro said: ” Ideologically, to me it’s a farce. So what we intend to do is to convince those that are still continuing whatever business they’re continuing which is against the law to come back and join the fold of law and join hands for national development.

“And as a political party, they can register as a legitimate political party just as long as there is evidence that there is a total disavowal of resort to subversive means in order to gain political power,” he continued.

Representative France Castro, the House Deputy Minority Leader, has recently urged Teodoro to call for peace talks with the NDFP.

On June 5, President Marcos named Teodoro as DND secretary.

Teodoro served as chief of the Defense department during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo