By Elizabeth Marcelo
MANILA, Philippines - Militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) yesterday denounced President Duterte’s declaration of an all-out war against the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
In a press statement, Bayan said Duterte’s termination of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), as well as his subsequent declaration of an all-out-war against the NPA, would only aggravate human rights abuses against the locals, especially in Mindanao.
“Only the fascists, imperialists and local oligarchs are rejoicing over these grim developments. Meanwhile, it will be the people who will carry the brunt and suffer the effects of increased military operations,” the group said.
They said that as early as yesterday, when the all-out-war was declared by the President, there were already reports of “attacks and harassment” against non-combatants and leaders of legal mass movements.
“It is an established fact that no all-out war approach, not even during the height of the US-backed Marcos dictatorship, has ever succeeded. The root causes of the armed conflict cannot be solved by intensified military operations,” Bayan said.
On Tuesday, the government peace panel served a formal notice to the NDF that the government, upon the order of Duterte, is terminating the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG) as well as the safe conduct passes for NDF members, including those acting as consultants in the peace talks.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star