I am a keen observer of the developments in the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF). I think the negotiation is going nowhere but a waste of time, money and effort on the part of government.
As a peace-loving and law-abiding citizen of this insurgents- and terrorists-troubled country, I can see no end to any peace talks with the NDF led by the aging Joma Sison who, obviously, does not have control over the leaders and cadres of the New People’s Army.
President Duterte himself has announced that there would be no peace deal with the Left so long as the NPAs continue to attack, harass and kill soldiers. He is still hoping, though, and pushing for the GRP panel led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello to hammer out a peace deal with the group of Joma Sison in the Netherlands.
The President said he had talked with the 78-year-old Joma Sison and offered him to come home and get medical treatment here at the former’s expense. The President said he had been told that the latter has some kind of a bone marrow disease.
The President, in his desire to hammer out a peace deal with the Left, could be dealing with the wrong persons. The President should go back to the drawing boards and adopt a new tactic and strategy to achieve his goal.
It makes no sense talking peace with NDF leaders who are ignored by their NPA subordinates (supposedly).
ROMEO E. ALCOSEBA, omyalcobase1977@gmail.com