By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command (SMROC) of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) has reiterated its refusal to participate in localized peace talks proposed by several government officials in the region.
Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson for NPA’s SMROC, issued the statement after Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go discussed the issue on localized peace talks during the release on July 27 of Police Inspector Menardo Cui.
After seven months in the rebels’ hands, Cui was freed unharmed at Sitio Indawhong, Barangay Salaysay in Baguio District, Davao City.
Go, in his speech during the turnover, said that the localized peace talks can bring peace to the community.
But Sanchez, in a statement issued to media on July 29, said the NPA is resolute not to be made party to local peace negotiations.
Earlier, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista has also pushed for localized peace talks with the leaders of NPA operating in the area.
The NPA-SMR, however, rejected Go’s proposal for localized peace negotiation as this, according to Sanchez, “will only serve the pacification and surrender campaign and psywar operations of the government.”
Sanchez reported that a day after the release, government troops deployed for combat and pursuit operations against the NPA custodial force, were hit by command-detonated explosives at Sitio Kamarag in Barangay Tambobong in Baguio District.
Two soldiers were hurt during the explosion, reports from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 said.
Wounded were Private First Class Jejomar Judan and Sergeant Enrique Genon. The blast also damaged a military truck.