The top communist militant in Mindanao expressed doubts about the Philippine government's sincerity in seeking an end to the nation's 46-year-long Maoist insurgency and has little hope in seeing a happy end to the peace talks in his lifetime.Speaking at the 46th anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jorge Madlos said he supports the resumption of the peace negotiations, but the government has proven to be insincere in the past. "We will continue to show interest in the peace talks," he said, adding that the New People's Army released several captive soldiers and policemen on Friday to show its goodwill in reopening the talks that stalled three years ago.
"These are confidence-building measures and we hope they also show signs of sincerity," said Madlos, also known as "Ka Oris" and is now the most wanted communist leader with a bounty of P5.6 million after the arrest in Cebu of CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon last March.
Madlos said the NPA will continue to launch offensives against the government until it addresses the social and economic roots of the insurgency. He said, "The advance of the armed struggle does not necessarily depend on the peace talks. With or without peace talks, the armed struggle advances. The difficult situations in addressing the conflict are the reasons why both parties should pursue it."
Recounting NPA achievements to thousands of CPP supporters, Madlos said the revolutionary movement is still expanding and gaining strength in Mindanao. He proclaimed, "In armed struggle, we have maintained the 46 guerrilla fronts despite the relentless fascist attacks by the AFP which has now more than 55 infantry battalions engaged in counter-revolutionary suppression campaigns in Mindanao. Not one front was destroyed. The tactical offensives by the NPA totaled to more than 300 and confiscated hundreds of firearms of various types and inflicted casualties of more than a battalion of regular enemy troops and paramilitary forces while the NPA suffered casualties of a few Red fighters."
The CPP anniversary ceremony was attended by thousands of people despite a military blockade on roads leading to Barangay San Isidro. Among attendees was former agrarian reform secretary Hernani Braganza who met with key CPP and NPA officials, including NDF peace negotiator Fidel Agcaoili. Army spokesman Col Restituto Padilla said Braganza was provided a military escort there early Friday evening.
But other participants were not so lucky and soldiers blocked several convoys enroute to the gathering. Among the blocked parties was that of Surigao del Sur Vice Governor Manuel Alameda and Bayan Muna Party Rep. Carlos Zarate who waited for hours.
Heated arguments broke out as soldiers prevented people from proceeding. Vice Governor Alameda said, "We came here for the peace consultation because the provincial government of Surigao del Sur wanted peaceful resolution of this long overdue peace problem due growing insurgency issues in our province and here you are blocking us?"
The blockade caused monstrous a traffic jam, but people continued to flock to join the CPP celebration. Even nuns from the Missionary Sisters of Mary and other religious orders, Aglipayan priests and bishops and Protestant pastors were seen in the area.