VP Sara: PH gov't-NDFP joint statement 'a pact with devil'

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday called the Philippine government's joint statement with the National Demorcatic Front of the Philippines "an agreement with the devil."

In a statement on occasion of the 5th anniversary of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Duterte also opposed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s amnesty proclamations for former communist rebels.

"Mr. President, the government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil," Duterte said.

The Vice President said history showed that the communist rebels were not sincere in pursuing peace and that they would only use the negotiations to betray the government and deceive the public.

She said that justice would not be served in the cases of barangay officials, security volunteers, police, and soldiers who died to protect the community with the amnesty proclamations.

"We appeal to your power to review these proclamations and agreements... Let us honor the memory of those who died in the senseless and bloody attacks of the NPA-CPP-NDFP," Duterte said.

"Mr. President, we can negotiate for peace and reconciliation and pursue meaningful development efforts in the Philippines without capitulating to the enemies,"she added.

Marcos urges support

Marcos on Nov. 28 called on Filipinos to support the peace process with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines after the government and the NDFP signed a joint communique indicating an agreement to return to the negotiations.

In a statement, Marcos said the Philippine government had taken a “bold, meaningful, and optimistic” toward the country's aspirations for peace.

“As reflected in the Joint Statement between our government and the NDF in recognizing the ‘serious socioeconomic, environmental, and foreign security threats’ facing our nation today, both parties have agreed to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict so that we may finally face these challenges as a unified nation,” Marcos said.

“I call upon the wholehearted support of all Filipinos as your government extends, in good faith, our nation’s goodwill to those ready to welcome and embrace our collective vision of peace, national reconciliation, and unity,” he added.

Joint statement

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 have always advocated and striven for a peaceful, prosperous, and unified country,” Marcos said.

“Today, I firmly believe that we have taken a bold, meaningful, and optimistic step toward the fulfillment of this aspiration for all Filipinos,” he added.

The GPH and the NDF earlier announced they had agreed to resume the stalled peace negotiations after their representatives signed a joint statement for "a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict."

"Cognizant of the serious socioeconomic and environmental issues, and the foreign security threats facing the country, the parties recognize the need to unite the nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict," the joint statement said.

"The parties agree to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict. Resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP," it added.

Amnesty proclamations

Marcos also granted amnesty to rebels including former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-NDF (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the following groups have been granted amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 403, 404, 405 and 406, respectively:

• Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB)
• Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) 
• Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
• Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

The amnesty was granted "to encourage them (rebels) to return to the folds of law," the PCO said.

Section 19, Article Seven of the Constitution provides that the President has the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all members of Congress.

Speaker Martin Romualdez and several other House leaders have filed proposed House concurrent resolutions concurring with Marcos' amnesty proclamations. —NB, GMA Integrated news

—NB, GMA Integrated News