Months after the joint communique to resume peace talks was signed by representatives of both the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and Government of the Philippines (GRP), GRP’s National Security Council Adviser Eduardo Año was quoted disapproving the resumption of peace talks should the revolutionary forces continue its armed revolution.

Revolutionary forces, Red commanders and fighters under Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) condemn this militaristic approach of Año. Peace talks is conducted to address the root cause of armed conflict in the Philippines. With the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in waging revolution, the NPA will continue to build and strengthen the mass base, address the land and economic issue through agrarian revolution and conduct tactical offensives as part of the armed struggle, whether the NDFP-GRP is engaging in peace talks or not.

Año’s rejection of peace talks is a reflection of its personal military background and the dictate of US imperialism and Marcos, Jr. As a military man, his approach in solving issues tends to make way for militarist approach and hinders otherwise. With dictator and terrorist Marcos Jr being the leader of the reactionary GRP, his policy is to destroy all individuals and groups that seems to obstruct his ways; through his orders, state terrorism is operated. All-out US domination in the Philippines dictates the halt of peace talks in favor of its weapons industry should the civil war continues. It is the likes of Año, Marcos and its cohorts, US imperialist and local bureaucrats and landlords that benefit the rejection of peace talks and the eventual continuation of militarist ways to handle the armed revolution.

The basic masses, peasants and workers alike, do not benefit the rejection of peace talks and just the opposite, they push for the continuation of peace talks, all the more that the next agenda will be on socio-economic reforms that addresses the land issue, job security, wage and benefits, among others.

The people in Northern Negros do not wish that militaristic approach be continued, especially that most communities experienced or is experiencing heavy militarization by #DiMasaligan79IB through focused military operations (FMO) and Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) which outcomes are increased human rights violations (HRVs) and disruption of their livelihood.

#DiMasaligan79IB’s FMO and RCSP resulted to a handful of willful killings, community bombardment and air strikes, numerous assaults and physical injury, grave coercion, usual practice of community encampment and use of public structures, including fake encounters, fake recoveries and forced or fake surrenderees.

Just recently, #DiMasaligan79IB again presented to the public a couple they claimed to be members of NPA. The said couple are not active members of RJPC-NPA, and has long been disenfranchised from any NPA unit since 2022. It’s a laughable claim that they are holding high positions. The fact is, #DiMasaligan79IB recently presented to the public personalities who are long been connected to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Año’s humbug do not consider the welfare of the masses. For revolutionary NPA, to give up armed struggle is to give up the masses aspiration of economic stability, social justice and long-lasting peace. With that, the revolution lives on.###