PRESIDENTIAL Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday that consultations are still ongoing regarding peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
“The consultation is still ongoing. We have visited most of the camps and also visited some of the provinces. We have already visited the Western Mindanao Command, we have also visited the Northern Luzon Command, and also Southern Luzon Command,” said Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Peace Adviser.
However, the government has already designated the NDFP alongside the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
“I don’t know, is that necessary?” according to Clemente Enrique Jr., Retired Army Captain | Security Analyst.
Former Army Captain and Security Analyst Clemente Enrique said there’s no point for the government to do so.
“We shouldn’t engage in talks, we’re here. We’re in a position of strength—the CPP-NPA-NDF is the losing side. It’s totally wrong to lower your gains and negotiate while you’re here. We’re just being fooled by the CPP-NPA-NDF,” said Enrique.
He added that the government must not waste millions of taxpayers’ money, our people’s money, on meaningless peace talks with a defeated terrorist organization.
Rather, it must focus its efforts on proven government interventions using good governance.
“The answer is simple! You have the NTF-ELCAC! NTF-ELCAC! Even if you change the people there, they are successful like Eric and Lorraine Badoy, they are successful, we owe them a big thank you—AFP, that cannot be denied. Thank you also to Duterte for approving NTF-ELCAC,” he added.
In November last year, the Philippine government and the NDFP agreed to resume the stalled peace negotiations after their representatives signed a joint statement for what they said was “a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict.”
In separate news conferences, the two sides announced the joint communique that was signed in Oslo on November 23 and which adverted to the need to “unite as a nation” amid socioeconomic and environmental issues, and “foreign security threats.”
“We’re just strengthening them! We’re giving them importance. They shouldn’t be given importance anymore. The message should be, surrender or die! That’s it!” he ended.
