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| New People’s Army (NPA) Rebels |
By Alexis Romero
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is “confused” by the signals being sent by leftist rebels after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) issued another statement directing its ground forces to continue launching offensives despite the ongoing peace talks.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the action of the CPP is “not conducive to talking about peace.”
“How can you talk about peace but the other side is attacking police and military?” he told reporters yesterday at Malacañang.
“That’s confusing… We have to have a bilateral ceasefire then we talk. How can we have meaningful talks if we continue to fight with each other? I’m confused with them. They want to talk but refuse to stop the fighting,” he added.
Lorenzana believes the rebels do not want to lay down their arms because they are earning a lot from what he described as “extortion” activities.
The government suspended the fifth round of talks with the communists in May after the CPP had ordered the New People’s Army (NPA), its armed wing, to intensify offensives against government forces implementing martial law in Mindanao.
Read the full story at PhilStar