The Marcos regime’s National Security Adviser Eduardo Año is once again sabotaging the ongoing peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Philippines. He declared in a press conference last week that he does not see the peace talks continuing because the revolutionary movement “is not united in dealing with negotiations.”
On 30 August, 2024, the Communist Party of the Philippines through Ang Bayan reported NDFP and New People’s Army (NPA) units in all levels and areas, in separate public statements by their spokespersons, condemned Año for sowing intrigue in this yet another attempt to derail the peace process.
Patnubay de Guia of NDF-Southern Tagalog, Armando Cienfuego of the NPA Southern Tagalog Regional Operational Command (Melito Glor Command), Cleo del Mundo of the NPA-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command), Dionesio Magbuelas, NPA-South Central Negros (Mt. Cansermon Command), Bayani Obrero, spokesperson of NDF-Negros Island, Cecil Estrella, NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Pelle Command), Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of the NPA-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman command), Rosa Guidon, spokeswoman of the NDF-Ilocos and Samuel Guerrero, spokesperson of the NPA-Sorsogon (Celso Minguez Command) belied Año’s wild assertions.
The entire revolutionary movement of the CPP-NPA through its national leadership is united up to the most basic local organizations in engaging and participating in the peace talks.
“In essence, the fascist general is challenging the armed revolutionary movement to lay down its arms as a condition for reopening negotiations….This tactic of undermining the peace talks to weaken the NPA and destroy the revolutionary movement is overused.”
Año has a long record of derailing peace talks. Año’s stance was the same in late 2023 after the joint statement of the NDFP and GRP announced the readiness of the two sides to reopen talks. He disseminated false information that the impending talks are “new” and do not stand on previous agreements.
But the NDFP and NPA at all levels assert that “only by solving the root causes of conflict and civil war in the country that are hunger, lack of services, corruption, dispossession of land and others, can genuine, just and lasting peace be truly achieved in the Philippines.”
“Perhaps Año forgets that the armed struggle has prevailed for 55 years…No sitting puppet regime has been able to defeat the NPA despite repeated declarations.”
Año’s stance contradicts his own president’s policy. Just a few days later, on 2 September, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. told the Malacañang Press Corps that Marcos is committed to continue the peace process and that exploratory talks between the two parties are still ongoing.
