THE National Security Council (NSC) has scored the domestic communist insurgency movement for claiming that the government in insincere in granting safe conduct passes for rebel leaders involved in peace negotiations.
NSC spokesman Jonathan Malaya charged that the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) has “perpetuated countless falsehoods over its five-decade existence, to the point it believes its own propaganda.”
Malaya cited as example the recent assertion by CPP chairman Baylon Villarico, along with NPA leaders Porferio Tuna and Simeon Naugsan, that their “peace advocates” were immune from arrest under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed during the President Fidel V. Ramos administration.
“The CPP-NPA-NDF has woven so many lies and falsity in its more than 50 year existence that it has started to believe its own propaganda.” Malaya noted.
“Therefore, it is preposterous and baseless for the CPP-NPA-NDF to claim that its leaders are immune from arrest and detention, and therefore above the law. Villarico, et. al. were arrested based on standing warrants of arrests issued by courts of law. It’s about time they face these cases squarely before the courts and not hide behind false arguments to evade responsibility for their crimes against the Filipino people,” he explained.
Malaya also pointed out that the government formally served a notice of termination of the accord to the NDF which took effect on March 9, 2017.
The termination is based on the provisions of the JASIG which states that it can be terminated by either party through an official notice to the other Party, and to be considered terminated 30 days after receipt of the other party, according to the NSC.
“Moreover, the JASIG cannot be considered resurrected after its formal termination in 2017 because there has been no such agreement to do so between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he said.
Malaya also said the 2023 Joint Oslo Communique only called for the creation of a framework to prioritize socio-economic and political reforms for a just and lasting peace.
The communique did not reinstate the JASIG, as no such agreement was reached between both parties, Malaya said.
