By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
The Philippines military says it is open to a proposal to resume peace talks with communist insurgents, on condition that they first stop all "terroristic activities" to demonstrate a commitment to any negotiations.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang told the state-run Philippines News Agency on Saturday that the proposal is a sign that the rebels continue to trust President Benigno Aquino III as a true advocate of peace.
He said the military fully supports the government in its drive to end all internal armed conflicts and push peace and development in conflict-ridden communities and reiterated a call to the rebels to seriously talk peace by showing sincerity in its actions.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is behind the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia, but its numbers have dwindled from a peak of 25,000 armed regulars in the 80s to its current number of about 4,000 members in 69 of the Philippines' 81 provinces.
It remains strong, however, in several poor communities, especially in at least seven Mindanao provinces in the Muslim south. Its armed wing - the New People's Army (NPA) - has been waging an insurgency since 1969 that has left tens of thousands of people dead.
In the interview, the general called on the NPA to stop the abductions, killings, extortion activities, IED attacks, and other criminal acts to show sincerity to the proposed peace talks.
Last week, an exploratory team led by former Agrarian Secretary Hernani Braganza submitted a report to the presidency aimed at resuming long-stalled peace talks, two sources told news portal Rappler on Saturday.
President Benigno S. Aquino III's six-year term will end in May 2016.
The report was submitted April 8. One source said a meeting was scheduled to discuss it, but postponed.
The chief political consultant for the communist party's political wing, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), confirmed to Rappler Friday that they’ve been talking to Braganza’s team since last 2014.
“The NDFP has made a proposal for a long-term ceasefire and time-bound negotiations of six months for each of the following of the substantive items," Jose Maria Sison said via email.
He detailed the items as "social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of conflict and disposition of forces."
The six-month duration was proposed in February, he added.
Although there doesn’t appear to be enough time for Aquino’s administration to complete a peace agreement with the communist movement, a significant reduction in violent encounters could have a bearing on the May 2016 elections.
