By Priam Nepomuceno – PNA News
MANILA — Rebel groups must show sincerity if they are really interested in talking peace, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.
He made this statement in response to questions on whether or not peace negotiations with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wings are still possible.
“The government is always open to peace talks. After all we have been talking to them for nearly three decades. Magpakita naman sila ng(They must prove their) sincerity that they want peace,” Lorenzana added in a message to reporters.
In referring to sincerity, the DND chief said the rebels must not use the peace talks to strengthen their forces and commit atrocities.
“Hindi yung gagamitin ang (They should not use the) peace talks to consolidate their forces, recruit more fighters, extort from businesses. As Mr. (CPP founder Jose Maria ‘Joma’) Sison has repeatedly said in the past they will utilize every strategy to advance their armed struggle including peace talks. That, I believe, is the reason why we have not come to a final peace agreement after all those years,” he added.
