Philippines: Fatal communist rebel ambush disheartening

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – A chief Philippine government negotiator has expressed sadness over an attack by suspected communist rebels that killed a government militiaman just days after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement Friday that it was “disheartening” that the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), “failed to respect the unilateral ceasefire”.

According to the military, NPA rebels belonging to Guerilla Front 34 in southern Mindanao island ambushed a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit in a village in Davao del Norte province, killing a government militiaman and injuring four others Wednesday.

Duterte responded by threatening to withdraw the unilateral ceasefire declared during his first State of the Nation Address on Monday. He instructed Bello, a leftist congressman, to demand an explanation.

Bello revealed that he had spoken with a panel member of the National Democratic Front (NDF) -- the CPP’s political wing -- and was informed that as far as Fidel Agcaoili is aware, the NPA has been on active defense mode Tuesday.

Bello said Agcaoli promised to look into the matter, adding that the government would await the results of the NDF’s verification.

He quoted Agcaoli as expressing the NDF’s commitment to resume peace negotiations as reiterated in a June statement issued by both sides in the capital of Norway. Bello also stressed that both sides continue preparations for upcoming talks scheduled Aug. 20-27 in Oslo.

“I strongly reiterate the call of President Duterte to the CPP/NPA/NDF to reciprocate the government’s ceasefire declaration in order to immediately stop violence on the ground, protect our communities from conflict, and provide an enabling environment for the resumption of formal peace negotiations,” he said.

In his address Monday, Duterte said he aims for a "permanent and lasting peace" before his term ends in 2022.

The CPP welcomed the declaration, describing it as a positive boost to the upcoming peace talks, but adding that the release of political prisoners should follow immediately.

Since March 1969, the NPA has been waging one of Asia's longest running insurgencies, which -- according to the military -- has claimed more than 3,000 lives over the past eight years.

Duterte has been making peace overtures to its political wing since he started to campaign for this year's presidential election.