President Benigno Aquino III. AP
A leader of the militant Left on Monday urged President Benigno Aquino to do for the communist rebels what he did for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and step in to revive the stalled peace negotiations with the insurgent group.
鈥淧-Noy (Aquino) must intervene鈥� if he is to uphold his vow to resume peace talks on (the) basis of (a) comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the conflict, with clear policies that will pave the way ahead,鈥� Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo said in a text message.
Ocampo made the statement amid mounting pressure on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People鈥檚 Army (CPP-NPA) to return to the negotiating table in order to forge a peace pact with the government.
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Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said the framework agreement with the MILF should exert more pressure on the government-National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiators to come up with a deal, although 鈥渂ad blood鈥� between the Philippine Army and the NPA had made him pessimistic about this happening at all.
鈥淭he government鈥檚 civilian negotiators are trying very hard, but the army and the NDF are not willing to move forward. I doubt very much if there will be an agreement in the next year or so. I hope I鈥檓 wrong,鈥� Bello said.
Ocampo stressed that the Left should not be blamed for the moribund peace talks with the government.
鈥淭he hitch stems from the government raising questions on previous agreements (already) mutually affirmed,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he pressure to assiduously take steps to resume formal talks with the NDF is more on the government,鈥� he added.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said the signing of a framework agreement with the MILF should compel the Left to walk the same road to peace.
鈥淓ven worldwide events where former armed partisans have entered the mainstream of politics and even led governments may present alternative directions for the militant Left,鈥� Angara said.