AFP not surprised by Zarate’s refusal to dialogue

FILE: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — While hoping that Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate will accept the military’s offer to explain the real agenda of the insurgency campaign of the government, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)  said it is not actually surprised by the former’s decision to reject the dialogue offer.

“We hoped they will but (we) are not actually surprised that the good Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate refused to accept our offer for well-meaning individuals and groups to sit down with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a meaningful engagement for the sake of fellow Filipinos and the future of our children,” AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in a statement forwarded to reporters Monday.

He said the possible refusal of Zarate to participate in the proposed dialogue may stem from the fact that he does not want to be confronted with mounting documentary and testimonial evidence that will bolster the government’s findings of the communist terror group (CTG)’s infiltration of sectoral groups.

Arevalo said this includes  the transfer of funds from foreign funding agencies to the CTG through witting or unwitting left-leaning organizations as conduits; deceptive recruitment and exploitation of minors and indigenous peoples to be New People’s Army (NPA) cadres and fighters; exploitation of issues involving women and children; and the alleged abuses of human rights.

He added that an outright refusal from Zarate is more palatable to the military than initially accepting it but will eventually not show up.

“We nonetheless make our continuing offer for people and organizations who genuinely desires to know why we in the AFP assert that ‘red-tagging’, ‘vilification’, ‘crackdown’, ‘planting of evidence’ among the many terms they used are merely for purposes of propaganda meant only to court sympathy,” he said.

Words like “fascists” and “human rights violators” used by the communist rebels, he said, are meant to demonize soldiers who sacrificed their lives saving minors from the clutches of the NPA and fall prey to their treacherous attacks.

Compare this to the NPA rebels who willfully destroy heavy equipment used to build roads, bridges, and school buildings, Arevalo added.

“We reiterate our invitation to other like-minded groups, organizations, or individuals who desire to seek the truth on the activities, the cunning and the design of the CTG,” he said.

He added that the military is making the same offer for institutions or individuals truly aspiring for lasting peace and inclusive development reign supreme for the nation’s children.

“It will be a betrayal of trust for the AFP and for those who know who the real enemies are but fail to educate our people who were the wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Arevalo said.