DAVAO CITY -- Army officials have expressed support to the localized peace talks initiated by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio even if the peace negotiations with the communists at the national level had been suspended by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Brig. Gen Bienvenido Datuin, Assistant Division Commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, lauded the mayor for initiating the local peace talks and other trailblazing activities like the recruitment of the Special Cafgu active auxiliary (SCAA).
“We will toe-the-line,” Datuin said during the AFP-PNP press forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
Datuin does not see any problem on the local peace talks even if the commander-in-chief (President Duterte) has “no talks” policy with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
After all, he said, the mayor is the President’s daughter.
He said the Philippine Army could even pursue its reintegration program, continue securing the people, and developing conflict-resilient communities.
“It is not about winning the war but it is about winning the peace,” Datuin stressed, hoping that the other side will also respect the peace initiatives of the mayor.
“Let’s give it a try,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col Raymund Lachica, Commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion, said it is a good move on Mayor Sara to look for political solution to the ongoing conflict with the NPA.
The 3rd IB covers the area of Davao City’s Marilog, Calinan, Toril and Marilog Districts. These are also the areas where NPA guerrilla fronts 54, 56, and Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 1, 2, and reportedly a newly-created PBC 3 are operating.
Lachica said the localized peace talks will be very peculiar especially that the family of the President is here.
Although this will be unique, Lachica said he does not see any problem.
“We will just make adjustments with current developments,” Lachica said.
On Tuesday, Mayor Duterte-Carpio announced she already signed Executive Order No. 34 creating the Davao City Local Peace Committee that will handle the localized peace talks with the members of the NPA, particularly in Davao City.
The committee is composed of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) head Ma. Luisa Bermudo, Lawyer Eliza Lapeña from the City Legal Office, Barangay Captain Joselito Areja of Barangay Malabog, Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles, representative from the private sector, and 2 other consultants.
She said the city is still vetting for a chairperson from the private sector. Duterte-Carpio said the committee will initiate all the negotiations between the local government and the rebels to ensure lasting peace in the city.
“It is the duty of your duly elected public officials to pursue just and lasting peace in the city, we have created the Davao City- Local Peace Committee with the objective and function to manage the localized peace talks with the NPA operating within the area of responsibility of Davao City,” she said.
The mayor said it is her duty as a local government leader for the Dabawenyos to achieve just and lasting peace even if the national government already suspended the peace negotiations with the NDF.
If the committee fails to achieve positive outcome in a year, she will terminate it in November 2018 and find alternative solution to bring peace in the city.
“The life of the committee will only be until November 2018. If there are no significant developments and movements in the localized process, we will pursue other options to achieve peace,” the mayor said.
“I am asking our NPA friends to work with us in the local government. After all, we all want to see a better Davao and we surely can attain this if you work beside us,” she urged.
It can be recalled that Duterte-Carpio already offered the NPA for local talks as long as they will be sincere with their intention to put down their guns and accept her job offer for them. (Lilian C. Mellejor and Funny Pearl Gajunera/PNA)
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