In November 2023, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) issued a Communique in Oslo, Norway regarding resumption of peace talks between the Marcos Jr government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA)-NDF. Formal negotiations became possible after the two sides signed the communique a few months ago. But National Security Adviser (NSC) Eduardo Año schemes to sabotage the resumption when he issued a statement opposing peace talks with the NDFP. This statement exposes the NSC’s anti-peace and truly bloody policy in resolving the problem of armed conflict in the country.

While Año accuses the CPP-NPA-NDF of not following previously signed agreements, the truth of the matter is that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and NTF-Elcac through the oppressive Anti-Terror Law are militarizing the countryside, bombing mountains and farmers’ fields, killing innocent civilians in the countryside and cities, killing hors de combat fighters and NDFP consultants, conducting abductions, and terrorizing and charging activists with trumped-up cases, and imprisoning them.

Marcos Jr lied when he boasted that his regime does not use bloody methods to solve the country’s problems, be it insurgency or drugs, like in Duterte’s time. In fact, he is no different or much worse than his predecessor, tyrant Duterte. In Negros, within just two years of his reign, there have been over 750 cases of human rights violations involving more than 52,800 victims, including 50 farmers who were killed by the AFP, PNP and its paramilitaries. They are also responsible for the killing of 21 hors de combat revolutionaries and the incarceration of more than 120 political detainees all over the island who are still in prison due to fabricated cases.

Año seeks to blackmail and dupe the revolutionary movement in saying that the GRP will not entertain peace talks if it does not lay down its arms. Perhaps Año forgot that the armed struggle has prevailed for 55 years. No sitting puppet regime has been able to defeat the NPA despite repeated declarations. The Marcos Jr regime can only dream of wiping out the CPP-NPA-NDF during its term even with superior weapons provided by its master, US imperialism.

In fact, it is the US-Marcos regime, not the CPP-NPA-NDF, that caused the country’s severe economic crisis. It promoted the neoliberal policy imposed by US imperialism which destroys the lives and livelihood of the broad masses. Massive land grabbing in cities and the countryside for mines, agro-industrial plantations and coastal reclamation is displacing thousands of residents. It is the US-Marcos regime, not the CPP-NPA-NDF, that is attacking the broad masses who are opposing pro-imperialist and pro-big bourgeois comprador and landlord projects that employ the AFP and its agencies to freely carry out neoliberal projects in the countryside and cities.

The fascist regime is also attacking various legal organizations that are the only ones helping victims of widespread injustice. They are facing rampant trumped-up charges and some were killed in order to weaken the strength of and support for the people’s struggles. De facto martial law envelops the country.

If the US-Marcos regime continues to be stubborn and does not seriously pursue peace talks, the anger of the people will persist and armed revolution will intensify.

The revolution waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF is for the national liberation and democracy. It has the support of the broad masses of farmers and workers along with democratic sectors who are also oppressed and exploited. It will persist and further advance until the oppressive system is overthrown and replaced by a socialist one.

The NDF-Negros along with all freedom-loving people and the progressive and democratic sectors of Negros Island calls for support and resumption of peace talks. We utterly condemn Gen. Año for being a warmongerer, militarist and anti-peace. Only the implementation of genuine land reform and national industrialization can resolve the roots of armed conflict, not launching a war against the people.