Time not yet ripe to renew talks with Reds: AFP

FILE: This was emphasized by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año who noted that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) intensified its harassments against civilian and military targets nationwide instead of convincing the government of their ardent desire to pursue peace negotiations. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA — It is not yet the right time for the government to resume peace negotiations with rebel groups.

This was emphasized by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año who noted that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) intensified its harassments against civilian and military targets nationwide instead of convincing the government of their ardent desire to pursue peace negotiations.

The confidence building measure the AFP chief is referring is for the CPP-NPA to stop extortion and harassment tactics in the countryside.

“For now, the situation, I think is not conducive to have a peace negotiation instead of doing some confidence measures (or) actions, ang ginagawa nila lalo pa nilang pinag iigting yung pag atake (What they do is intensify the attacks.),” he added.

And should the rebels decide to stop these illegal actions, Año said the government is more than willing to resume the peace negotiations.

“Yung condition lang naman natin at ng Presidente ay Number 1, stop nila ang extortion at saka yung burning and then ceasefire tayo and then we can talk (Our number one condition which is the same as that of the President is for them to stop their extortion and burning activities, then we can have a ceasefire and then we can talk.),” he added.

Peace talks with the rebel group were terminated last Feb. 4 following a series of unprovoked attacks against civilian and military targets nationwide.