NDF rejects Duterte’s general amnesty offer to NPA rebels

The National Democratic Front (NDF) on Wednesday told President Duterte he will not “fool anyone in the revolutionary movement” with his offer of a general amnesty for communist rebels who will lay down arms and cooperate with the government.

In a statement, the NDF branded the President’s offer as “nothing but a psywar tool to create division within the revolutionary movement”. The negotiating panel said Duterte made the pronouncement to make it appear like he is sincere in building peace with the communist rebels.

“The [government] panel head Silvestre H. Bello III must explain to his principal that his latest idea of general amnesty is absolutely unacceptable to the NDF because it violates the letter and spirit of the whole peace talks,” the statement read.

“The general amnesty conceived of in the Hague Joint Declaration that sets the framework for the whole peace negotiations is mutual amnesty for both NPA [New People’s Army] fighters and [government] soldiers as part of the Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces after the two sides have approved the [agreements on socioeconomic and constitutional reforms],” the statement added.

The NDF also reminded the government the peace talks are meant to “address the socioeconomic and political roots of the armed conflict”, and not to force the opposing side to surrender. “In other words, [the peace talks should] solve the problems of widespread poverty among the majority on the one hand and scandalous wealth among the few on the other, the monopoly of political power of oligarchs and political dynasties and powerlessness among the masses,” the NDF said.

The NDF also urged the President to heed the “wise counsel” of Government Chief Negotiator and Labor Secretary Bello, who the panel labeled as someone “knowledgeable” of the history and stands of the NDF on many issues, instead of listening to military men in
the Cabinet.

Duterte last Friday told a select group of Davao-based reporters he is willing to grant a general amnesty to members of the NPA who would like to surrender to the government.

He said he will implement the program should lawmakers agree with him.

Peace negotiations with the communist rebels are stalled for four months now due to disagreements between the government panel and the NDF. While the government panel is aiming for a bilateral cease-fire, the NDF is seeking for socioeconomic and constitutional reforms, causing the turmoil between the two camps.