Bring Joma back Critics of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison calls on the Dutch Embassy to repatriate him as the proponent of armed struggle, which is the oldest in Asia, celebrates its anniversary today. BOB DUNGO JR. @tribunephl_bob

Treachery was very evident in the recent violation of the New People’s Army (NPA) of the twin unilateral ceasefire called by the government and the communist movement, which in turn had again soured the prospects of a final shot at a peace agreement.

Police Regional Office 6-PBGen. Rene P Pamuspusan belied the statement issued by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA that the rebels acted in defense against “sustained operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

“What is very clear is, the NPA attacked my personnel through a landmine-initiated ambush only a few hours after the effectivity of the holiday truce” Pamuspusan emphasized in an interview. “They violated the truce,” he added.

While it is true that there was a joint combat operation of the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company and the 601st Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion which started on the afternoon of December 19, 2019 at the boundaries of Tubungan and Leon towns of Iloilo province which resulted to an armed encounter on 21 December 2019 at around 9 am in Sitio Cadingli-an, Barangay Boloc of Tubungan, military personnel were already on the stand down before the occurence of the ambush.

On 22 December 2019 at around 7:30 p.m., Pamuspusan personally relayed to Police Leiutenant Colonel Leo Batiles, the Ground Commander, through a text message and call, the instruction of President Rodrigo declaring a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Immediately, Police Lieutenant Colonel Leo Batiles contacted all team leaders of the operating units to cease all operations after midnight. He made clear for troops to consolidate in their pick-up points and pull-out from the areas early morning to avoid encounters and not to violate the ceasefire agreement. At exactly 8:30 am of 23 December 2019, all operating troops were all accounted for at the Tubungan Municipal Police Station.

Afterwards, some policemen were ferried to their detachment in Lanag Norte, Tubungan, Iloilo and while the patrol jeep driven by Police Staff Sargeant Ian John Lindo and eight others were travelling back to the police station to ferry other troops to their camp in Bagumbayan, Tigbauan, Iloilo, they were ambushed by communist rebels by detonating a landmine at Barangay Singon, Tubungan, Iloilo. After the explosion, the armed insurgents sprayed bullets at the patrol jeep. The attack resulted to the wounding of two troopers and damage to the patrol jeep.

“Clearly, there is no violation of the unilateral ceasefire committed by our personnel,” Pamuspusan said emphasizing that the troops were attacked while going back to camp and operations have officially been concluded, he expressed.

Pamuspusan indicated the act of terrorism and violence only showed the weak leadership of the CPP-NDFP for not having control over the NPA. It may also mean that the NPA no longer follow the CPP-NDFP Leadership.

Local peace talks should be done simultaneously with the national government’s efforts to initiate peace talks to successfully end insurgency, senators recommended.

In an interview yesterday, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed optimism in government efforts to pursue peace particularly in Mindanao but the Go demanded sincerity on the side of the revolutionaries.

“I am committed to peace particularly in Mindanao, with the Moro rebels and the Left. The President, too, wanted lasting peace. He doesn’t want Filipinos killing their own countrymen,” he noted.

“But we have a problem right now. The President wanted to know it there was a violation as a result of the hostilities. If there is, the rebels can’t blame him if the negotiations are again terminated.

The senator urged the communist movement to trust the President as he recounted his experience in Davao City where he and the Chief Executive, who was then a mayor, would go to the lair of rebels to negotiate the release of captured soldiers.

Recently, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has asked the national government to exclude the area within her jurisdiction from the ceasefire agreed upon the Philippine Government and the CPP, with its armed wing NPA, which started on 23 December and will last until 7 January 2020.

The presidential daughter said it would mar the on-going peace initiatives of the local government of Davao City with the rebels in their area.

Mayor Duterte, in her statement, mentioned the PEACE 911 program of the Davao City government.

According to the younger Duterte, Peace 911 is a comprehensive peace-building program of the Davao City government for conflict-affected areas of the city. It is primarily focused in Paquibato District and Barangay Dominga in Calinan District, areas identified as strongholds of the NPA terrorists.

The civilian group in charge for the peace talks in Davao City has paved the way for the opening of roads, health centers and schools which include the introduction of a so-called peace economy to lumad groups.

“For the first time in many years, people were given access to government agencies and non-government organizations that could help in the development of their communities — the Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Social Work and Development,” Mayor Duterte noted.

“More and more NPA members and their supporters are also turning themselves into the government through the program.”