By Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
July 16, 2019
Because it quotes extensively from PNP chief Albayalde, the news story below, especially its title, tends to make it appear that Cardinal Tagle has agreed to collaborate with the tyrannical Duterte regime in staging sham localized peace talks and in carrying out a campaign of psywar and military suppression against the revolutionary movement of the people.
Cardinal Tagle is clear enough with his reported statement: “Any call for peace talks must come from the broad sector of society and not just a unilateral declaration from either government or underground movement.” The unilateral declaration of government or Albayalde is not enough to make peace talks with the revolutionary movement.
From the news story itself, I do not read anything which quotes Tagle directly as “joining hands with the police for localized peace talks”. The title of the news story is misleading. It merely reflects the onesided presumption and talk of Albayalde that he has hoodwinked the cardinal into siding with the tyrannical Duterte government and becoming an endorser of the localized “peace talks” which are being staged by the military and police and which have been condemned by the leading political organs of the NDFP and CPP and commands of the NPA at every level, from the national to the local level.
I think that Cardinal Tagle is sufficiently informed that the sham localized “peace talks” are being staged by the military and police and have been condemned by the aforesaid leading political organs of the NDFP and CPP and commands of the NPA at every level, from the national to the local level. To address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace, the peace negotiations must be carried out at the national level in accordance with the framework set by The Hague Joint Declaration.
The CPP, NPA, NDFP and other revolutionary forces as well as the broad range of patriotic forces of the Filipino people have exposed and condemned localized “peace talks” as a mere psywar and red-tagging device of the military and police under National Task Force-ELCAC in a futiltle attempt to divide and destroy the revolutionary movement.
The military and police minions of Duterte pretend not to know that the revolutionary movement of the people continues to preserve itself and grow in strength because the conditions for armed revolution have become more favorable because of the tyranny, treason. brutality, corruption and mendacity of the Duterte regime.
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PNP, Catholic Church join hands for localized peace talks
By: Cathrine Gonzales – Reporter / @cgonzalesINQ
INQUIRER.net / 05:13 PM July 16, 2019
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1142406/pnp-catholic-church-join-hands-for-localized-peace-talks?fbclid=IwAR1bF3SKk4Poy9eWuTun1AFdobJcJ2wxNBbnPEN7N0IpJCmMdCybW7P46VI
Tagle meets Albayalde
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde and other police officials meet with Manila Archbishop Antonio Cardinal Tagle to discuss the pursuit of localized peace talks with armed rebels on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at the Archbishop’s Palace in Manila. (Photo from PNP)
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the leaders of the Catholic Church have joined hands to explore and reaffirm the collaboration of both sectors to end the decades-long insurgency in the country.
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde and Manila Archbishop Antonio Cardinal Tagle met Tuesday at the Archbishop’s Palace in Manila to discuss the pursuit of localized peace talks with members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr., director of the PNP Directorate for Public and Community Relations, said that during the meeting, Albayalde agreed with the prelate that “any call for peace talks must come from the broad sector of society and not just a unilateral declaration from either government or underground movement.”
“The PNP is actively pursuing national government efforts to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) thru a multi-sectoral undertaking,” Durana, who was also present in the meeting, said in a statement.
He said during the meeting, Tagle also suggested the formation of an “ecumenical fellowship” among various religious congregations in the country, similar to what he initiated when he was Bishop of Imus.
Albayalde, meanwhile, also relayed concerns over infiltration of some church organizations by communist terrorist groups.
“Both leaders vowed to continue collaboration on these issues and other issues relating to national unity and stability,” said Durana.
Aside from discussing efforts to end the insurgency, Durana said Albayalde also sought the support of leaders of the Catholic Church on the restorative approach being implemented by the PNP in its internal cleansing program.
