TWO business leaders of Davao City on Thursday urged the government to put off its peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front until the group could demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Ronald Go and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association president Alexander Valoria appealed to the government to heed Senator Panfilo Lacson’s call and take into account the damage being inflicted by the communist insurgents on Mindanao’s businesses.
The two made their plea even as a lawmaker on Thursday urged the Duterte administration to pursue the resumption of its peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front, calling it a “saving grace” for his presidency.
Rep. Ariel Casilao made the call as President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to deliver his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, when he is expected to speak of the government’s desire to end Asia’s longest running communist insurgency.
“We all know that his appointments of the progressive C abinet members are connected with the talks with the NDFP, hence, his pro-people governance is only manifestation of his peace agenda and inclusive governance,” Casilao said.
Valoria said the NDF obviously had no control over its armed unit”•the New People’s Army”•which had continued its attacks on government installations and on private businesses, especially those operating banana and pineapple plantations in Mindanao.
Valoria and Go were referring to Lacson’s recent statement urging the Duterte administration to hold off its peace talks with the NDF after the NPA attacked a police outpost in Iloilo on June 18.
“We agree with Senator Lacson and join his call for the government to scrap its peace negotiations with the NDF,” Valoria said.
“Unless the NDF and its armed group on the ground can show that it is sincere in pursuing genuine peace, it would be useless and futile to keep on talking. Treachery and betrayal have no place on the peace table.”
Go said the continuing atrocities of the NPA proved that there was no central communist leadership capable of pursuing genuine peace with the government.
“If that is the case, then Senator Lacson is right to advise the government to hold off negotiations with the NDF,” Go said.
Valoria also asked the government to reconsider its recent move requiring security personnel guarding their plantations and offices to deposit their high-powered firearms with the Philippine National Police.
“We are respectfully appealing to the authorities to review this recent directive as we are left at the mercy of the NPA and other lawless elements who, in most cases, are now able to carry out their attacks using high-powered guns,” Valoria said.
Go said businessmen in Mindanao no longer wanted to add to the security concerns that law enforcement authorities were facing on the island in light of the declaration of martial law.
“This is why the business community is requesting the government to at least give us some leeway to allow us to protect our businesses from the NPA and other criminal elements,” Go said.
Valoria and Go welcomed the recent assurance made by the police leadership in Mindanao that it would take steps to fill the security gap left by the recent directive requiring private entities to deposit their high-powered firearms with the PNP.
Among these measures, Valoria said, was the PNP’s move to speed up the training program for Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary groups that would be deployed to augment the security forces in Mindanao.
