By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) criticized the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte after he decided to suspend peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF).

Bayan-Negros Secretary-General Michael dela Concepcion said peace talks should have been the “optimal solution” to the current worsening condition of the country.

He declared the group would oppose the policies being pushed by the Duterte administration, claiming the president is advocating the agenda of the previous administration.

Earlier, Duterte suspended peace talks with the Communist rebels, following a deadly ambush in Bukidnon earlier this month, which resulted in the deaths of a four-month-old baby and two civilians.

Incidentally, NPA spokesman Jorge ‘Ka Oris’ Madlos issued an apology over the incident, claiming the rebel group provides the “highest regard to the rights of civilians” and ensures “civilians are protected from harm.” However, just last month, a civilian was injured when the NPA set off an improvised explosive device (IED) in Janiuay, Iloilo.

Earlier, two foreign nationals also incurred injuries following the NPA’s ambush on police officers in Cauayan; and, in an NPA-led attack back in July in Guihulngan City, an aide to a city councilor was killed, alongside six police officers.

More recently, the group targeted the police in Maasin, Iloilo, which killed one police officer and wounded three others./DGB, WDJ