Communist rebels’ demands ‘premature’ —Año

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Wednesday described the demands of the communist rebel group as "premature" which came shortly after the government and the National Democratic Front agreed to resume peace negotiations. 

Among those demands are:

• The release of  NDFP peace consultants, allowing them to take part in the discussions and negotiations. 
• Rescind the "terrorist designation" of the NDFP, Luis Jalandoni, the CPP, the NPA, and other personnel of the NDFP.
• Dismantle the National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac, cause the repeal of the Anti-Terror Law, order the AFP to withdraw armed soldiers conducting "localized peace negotiations" and "community support.”
• Release of more than 800 political prisoners

“All of these demands from the [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army] (CPP-NPA) are premature,” Año said in a statement read by NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya during a press conference of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

For Año, the lifting of the terrorist designation undergoes a process under the Anti-Terrorism Act and should be a result of the signing of the final peace agreement.

He also pointed out that there is no recommendation for a ceasefire, which means the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to operate against the NPA and other armed rebels.

The NTF-ELCAC, in which Año serves as co-vice chairperson, will also continue to do its task despite the ongoing peace talks.

Año, however, also said that “the NTF ELCAC will work for the closure of the communist armed struggle, mindful that the rebels are still Filipinos entitled to amnesty”.

Malaya, meanwhile, announced that the NTF-ELCAC will have a rebranding as it has ended its “TAGGED” regular pressers on Wednesday.

The NTF-ELCAC officials said that Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also a co-vice chair of the task force, will remain as their ally despite her different stance on peace talks.

Duterte earlier made comments on the resumption of peace talks saying that the joint statement with the NDFP is like "making a deal with the devil."

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

She pointed out that 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. 

According to the NTF-ELCAC officials, Duterte’s insights will be taken into account in the peace process. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News