The Philippine Army (PA) expressed support yesterday to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr.’s refusal to resume peace negotiations with the New People’s Army (NPA).

“The PA fully supports Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr.’s rejection of the proposed resumption of peace talks with the NPA. The Army underscores that the NPA has been designated as a terrorist organization, given its continued use of violence and attacks against civilians and government forces,” Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala told the Philippine News Agency.

Likewise, the PA spokesperson said peace talks with the NPA cannot restart without the group’s “genuine renunciation” of its armed struggle.

Dema-ala maintained that the PA remains committed to protecting the Filipino people and dismantling terrorist networks, and supporting a whole-of-nation approach to ending insurgency.

Teodoro on Saturday, May 2, outrightly rejected the resumption of peace talks with the NPA despite calls by some former negotiators demanding for such.

Former peace negotiators were calling for the restart of the peace talks in wake of the April 19 encounter between the military and insurgents in Toboso, Negros Occidental that left 19 people dead. (PNA)