The regional offices of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) condemned National Security Adviser Eduardo Años for stating that he does not see peace talks between the NDFP and the Government of the Philippines (GRP) continuing. He made the statement on August 19, at a press conference of the National Security Council. Año said this is because “the revolutionary movement is not united in dealing with negotiations.” Further sowing intrigue, he claims “opposition” abound at the “local level” having allegedly no consensus on whether to “reject” the armed struggle. The problem supposedly lies with the revolutionary forces.

“National Security Adviser Eduardo Año is once again proving to be the leading peace saboteur in the Philippines,” Patnubay de Guia, of NDF-Southern Tagalog spokesperson, said. “This is clear case to again derail the peace talks.”

“In essence, the fascist general is challenging the armed revolutionary movement to lay down its arms as a condition for reopening negotiations,” Armando Cienfuego, Southern Tagalog Regional Operational Command (Melito Glor Command) spokesperson, said. “This tactic of undermining the peace talks to weaken the NPA and destroy the revolutionary movement is overused.”

Cleo del Mundo, NPA-Quezon (Apolonio Mendoza Command) spokesperson, refuted Ano’s allegations. “The entire revolutionary movement of the CPP-NPA through its national leadership is united up to the most basic local organizations in engaging and participating in the peace talks,” she said.

Año has a long record of derailing peace talks. Año’s stance was the same in late 2023 after the joint statement of the NDFP and GRP announced the readiness of the two sides to reopen talks. He disseminated false information that the impending talks are “new” and do not stand on previous agreements.

He also immediately disputed the measures that would facilitate the reopening of the negotiations such as the release of NDFP consultants and other political detainees and the removal of the “terrorist” designation on Louie Jalandoni. Instead, he stressed that military operations of the AFP and NTF-Elcac, the perpetrators of numerous war crimes and human rights violations against civilians, will continue.

Dionesio Magbuelas, NPA-South Central Negros (Mt. Cansermon Command) spokesperson, described him as a warfreak. “Ano’s statement that the revolutionary forces should first declare not launching an armed struggle before the GRP agrees to the negotiation is illogical and full of contradictions,” he said. “Ano must realize that it is impossible for the Red fighters to simply surrender while so much reason to fight and take up arms prevail.”

“Perhaps Año forgets that the armed struggle has prevailed for 55 years,” Bayani Obrero, spokesperson of NDF-Negros Island, said. “No sitting puppet regime has been able to defeat the NPA despite repeated declarations.”

Año’s refusal to talk is a reflection of his personal background as a militarist and conforms to the dictates of US imperialism and Marcos Jr, according to Cecil Estrella, NPA-Northern Negros (Roselyn Pelle Command) spokesperson. “The people of Negros reject this militaristic approach, especially in the communities that suffer from the 79th IB’s heavy militarization.”

“The desire (of Año and his boss, Marcos Jr) for the CPP-NPA-NDFP and all the struggling people to surrender and lay down arms is insane,” Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of the NPA-Mindoro (Lucio De Guzman command), said.

“Being anti-peace negotiations is being anti-people,” Rosa Guidon, spokeswoman of the NDF-Ilocos, said. “It closes the opportunity to continue and finalize the substantive agenda that would have solved the root cause of the chronic poverty of the masses of farmers, workers and other poor Filipinos.”

“The US-Marcos regime itself blocks the way to true peace for the Filipino people,” Samuel Guerrero, spokesperson of the NPA-Sorsogon (Celso Minguez Command), said. “The entire revolutionary movement in the province of Sorsogon stands firm that only by solving the root causes of conflict and civil war in the country that are hunger, lack of services, corruption, dispossession of land and others, can genuine, just and lasting peace be truly achieved in the Philippines.”