Ka Leody says peace talks not necessary if NPA's demands are addressed

Labor leader and presidential candidate Leody de Guzman on Monday said resumption of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) is no longer needed should the government meet the rebels’ demands.

“Tingin ko ‘yung pakikipag-peace talk ng gobyerno ay gusto lamang utuin ‘yung mga NPA, pasukuin, nang hindi ina-address ‘yung kanilang mga demands, ‘yung kanilang mga kahilingan, ay wala talagang mangyayari,” he said during an Catholic E-Forum hosted by Radio Veritas.

(Nothing will happen in the peace talks if the government just wants to deceive the NPAs and subdue them without addressing their demands.)

De Guzman said he has already read the armed group’s proposals on land reforms, justice system, public service, and policies for workers and farmers and he thinks that all are just.

“Ang gagawin ko lang ay ipatupad ko ‘yung mga makatarungang kahilingan nila, ay tingin ko kusang magbababa ng armas ‘yung mga NPA na ‘yan,” he said.

(What I would do if I win president is to address their fair demands and I think by then, they will voluntarily let go of their firearms.)

“Naniniwala ako na kapricho lang nila ‘yung paghawak ng armas,” he added.

(I believe that they are only holding firearms out of whim.)

President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order 70 created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to implement community consultations, problem solving sessions, and local peace dialogues.

However, in 2017, Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the termination of peace talks with the communist rebels as the CPP-NPA-NDF is still “engaged in acts of violence and hostilities.”

In June 2021, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process turned down calls to revive peace talks between the government and the CPP following a fatal landmine attack on civilians by the NPA in Masbate City.

During Jessica Soho's Presidential Interviews, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno all indicated that they are for the resumption of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Asked if he thinks that the CPP-NPA-NDF is a threat to national security, de Guzman said that they are if the current government will not change and continue to favor big businesses.

“Malamang talagang palalakasin nila ‘yung mga NPA nila at aagawin ‘yung gobyerno dahil sa paniniwala nila, ang binubuhay lang gobyerno ito  —mula kay Aguinaldo hanggang kay Marcos, kay Duterte — ay puro big business lamang,” he said.

(For sure, they will really strengthen the NPA and try to seize the government because they believe that the government — from Aguinaldo to Marcos to Duterte — only favors the big businesses.)

De Guzman is known for his pro-poor and pro-workers stances, vowing that he would focus on policies on labor and not on business to help regular workers if he becomes president. —KBK, GMA News