By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) commander, Colonel Michael Samson reiterated his invitation to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros for localized peace talks, pointing out that whatever problems they have can easily be resolved peacefully.
In a media interview following his visit to the Provincial Capitol yesterday morning, Samson said his challenge for localized peace engagement is directed towards the remaining leaders of the NPA in Negros, and not the progressive groups who pretend to represent the NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the National Democratic Front.
He believes that he will be able to pacify the NPA insurgents in a peaceful way, since being a Negrense, he knows their local problems with agrarian reform and the delivery of basic services.
The problems could be easily addressed through dialogue with concerned government agencies, local government units, and even the land owners themselves, he pointed out.
“We don’t want to solve imperialism, fascism, constitutional and political reforms, or coalition with the government in Negros. Our problems are local in nature,” he said.
When asked if they have been receiving surrender feelers from some of the NPA members, Samson said there are some of them who want to give up, but they don’t know how to as they are constantly being threatened by their own comrades.
The 303IBde commander said he is hoping the local religious groups in Negros could step in alongside the local government, barangay officials, the private sector, and even the local media if the surrendering NPA members are too afraid to contact the government forces directly.
However, if they continue to insist on using violence, Samson said they would have no other option but to respond with military action.
Samson said the NPA was severely weakened due to the losses they sustained last year, such as the deaths of Ericson Acosta, the NPA’s deputy secretary in Negros, and Romeo “Juanito Magbanua” Nanta.
He further added that due to the NPA’s losses and the recent passing of CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, the NPA is currently suffering a “power vacuum” or leadership crisis both at the local and national level./DGB, WDJ