Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday urged rebel groups to not waste the opportunity of talking and possibly striking peace deal with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has pure sincerity of ending the decades-old armed conflict in the country.

In a statement, Go said that he and the President have been longing for a lasting peace, particularly in Mindanao, to bring about development in the country side and called on various rebel groups to take advantage of the Duterte administration’s resolve to end the armed conflict and attain peace.

“I am for peace, especially in Mindanao with the Moro rebels, and with the Left. The President also wants long lasting peace,” Go said. “The President does not like Filipinos killing each other. No Filipino would want to kill a fellow Filipino.”

The senator also expressed his full support to the possible resumption of peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), but stressed the need for sincerity on the part of the leftist groups.

“I was among those who were approached by the Left leaders regarding peace talks. I support it. The President and I have been talking, we have only one goal –that is to have long lasting peace and development in our country,” said Go.

Department of Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, on the other hand, disclosed that the CPP-NPA-NDFP may proceed with any of its planned gatherings without the military interfering.

Lorenzana issued the statement following confirmation by “Ka Oto,” the spokesperson of the Guerrilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command, that the CPP was forced to cancel its long-planned annual plenum last 29 December in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte because of the tension between its armed unit, the NPA and government security forces.

The yearly event is a gathering of leaders from the CPP, NPA and the NDFP and this year’s plenum “would have been for the enlightenment of the state of the peace talks as we are returning to the negotiating table,” according to the local communist leader.

Lorenzana insisted the CPP “can go ahead” with their activities, traditionally held every 26th of December in connection with the communist group’s founding anniversary, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has other matters to focus on.

“So, they have a plenum? They can go ahead. Our troops are not prohibited from doing their other duties such as law enforcement and assisting the local populace,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

The Defense chief, however, refuted Ka Oto’s claim that the AFP is an “unwilling party” in the Yuletide truce which was already marred by a couple of incidents involving both sides and in fact, the NPA launched attacks just hours after Malacañang released the order of Duterte last 23 December declaring ceasefire.

Lorenzana maintained that whatever combative action that will come from the government’s side would only be reactionary.

“The ceasefire prohibits them (military) from engaging the NPA in combat. Our troops will only react in self-defense,” said Lorenzana.

Go, meantime, stressed that the President will not hesitate to terminate the ceasefire if he found any violation on the part of the NPA.

“The President is interested in knowing whether there was violation. If there was, you cannot blame the President if he terminates the unilateral ceasefire on the part of the government,” the senator said. (With Kristina Maralit)