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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Retired generals back Teodoro's stand vs revival of peace talks with Reds

Retired generals back Teodoro's stand vs revival of peace talks with Reds

Published May 11, 2026 01:42 pm

At A Glance

  • Retired military and police generals from the Association of General and Flag Officers Inc. publicly backed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for opposing the revival of national peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and National Democratic Front.
  • The group said the government should continue focusing on localized peace engagements, amnesty, and reintegration programs for former rebels instead of national-level negotiations.
  • They argued that the communist movement has weakened and should instead participate in the legitimate political process.
  • Meanwhile, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento reaffirmed the government's commitment to helping former rebels reintegrate into society through programs led by the OPAPRU.
  • Sarmiento said government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, remain united in supporting former insurgents who return to civilian life through peaceful means.
(File photo)
(File photo)
Retired military and police generals have thrown their support behind Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over his opposition to reviving national-level peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
In a letter dated May 5 and sent to reporters on Monday, May 11, the Association of General and Flag Officers Inc. (AGFO) said the government should instead continue pursuing localized peace engagements, amnesty, and reintegration programs for former rebels.
“As an institution dedicated to preserving the Republic and defending democracy, AGFO recognizes the government's effort that focuses on localized peace engagements, amnesty, and reintegration while prioritizing the dismantling of remaining guerrilla fronts through local initiatives,” the group said in a letter signed by retired police general German B. Doria, chairman and president of AGFO.
“It is best for the CPP-NPA-NDF join the legitimate political process instead,” it added.
The national government has continued to push its localized peace talks, which shifted the focus from national negotiations to village-level surrenders and localized settlements with insurgents.
The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. briefly reopened backchannel talks with the NDF, the political wing of the CPP, in 2023 through a Norway-brokered joint communique. The effort later stalled amid ongoing armed encounters and disagreements over the conditions for formal negotiations.
Read: DND chief rejects peace talks with Reds
Teodoro has since taken a harder line against the communist movement, repeatedly arguing that the insurgency is already weakened and no longer warrants national-level peace negotiations.
“We congratulate Secretary Teodoro for his steadfast resolve in ending insurgency by blocking any attempt to resume peace talks at a time when the enemy flat on the ground. This is political will displayed where it matters most,” the group said.
The organization also pledged support for DND in protecting “the primacy of the rule of law and the dignity of our national sovereignty.”
Peace adviser backs ex-rebels’ return to mainstream society
Meanwhile, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento said the government remains united in supporting former rebels who choose to return to the fold of the law, as he reaffirmed the continuation of localized peace and reintegration programs.
Sarmiento said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has consistently carried out programs aimed at helping former insurgents transition back into civilian life.
“The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity has always been consistent: to help, assist, and ensure the welfare of those who return to the fold of the law,” Sarmiento said.
“This has long been a program, even before my term,” he added.
OPAPRU currently co-leads the Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the government’s anti-insurgency task force, alongside the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has backed the localized approach since the creation of NTF-ELCAC in 2018, saying community-based peace initiatives address local security concerns and the roots of insurgency.
Sarmiento said coordination among government agencies is key to ensuring that former combatants are successfully reintegrated into society.
“Together with the Department of National Defense, the AFP, the DILG, and the NTF-ELCAC, we speak with one voice: those who choose peace will be supported and cared for,” he said.
He added that the government remains committed to providing policy support and assistance for peace-building efforts in communities affected by insurgency.
Sarmiento also said the government’s peace programs are meant to assure active members of armed groups that “the government’s door remains open,” offering them an opportunity to rebuild their lives with their families through peaceful means.

Related Tags

DND AGFO AFP peace talks CPP-NPA-NDF OPAPRU
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