NPA vows more offensives despite looming talks

Despite a looming resumption of peace talks between government and communist rebels, the New People's Army (NPA) has vowed to intensify its offensives in the coming months to ensure that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo does not extend her stay in power beyond 2010. National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Mindanao spokesman Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos bared the plan on the eve of Mrs. Arroyo's last State of the Nation Address (SONA). "The intensification of tactical offensives in Mindanao will be done in line with the intensification of NPA tactical offensives nationwide in the coming months. The objective is to contribute to efforts to weaken the ruling regime and gain victory for the oust Arroyo movement," he said in a statement posted on the Communist Party of the Philippines' Web site. The NPA is the CPP's armed wing, while the NDF is its political wing. Madlos said the NDF does not expect much from Mrs. Arroyo's final SONA on Monday except false statements, braggadocio and deception to "cover up the corruption, violence and brutality of her puppet regime." Critics of the government claim Mrs. Arroyo is eyeing a term extension through Charter change, which is being pushed by her allies in the House of Representatives through the convening of a Senate-less constitutional assembly. "All the people want to hear is Arroyo's farewell. But even this, she refuses to grant. Instead, she is foisting cha-cha upon us all," Madlos said. Breathing space Earlier, an NPA spokesman said the Arroyo government’s sudden renewed interest in reviving peace talks may just be a ploy to buy time to keep itself in power beyond 2010. NPA Chadli Molintas Command (Ilocos-Cordillera) spokesman Martin Montana noted the Armed Forces of the Philippines still has a deadline to crush the NPA by 2010. “The sudden renewed interest of the Arroyo regime to revive peace talks with the revolutionary movement is a telling indication of the dire straits it is in. The regime has no interest in a just and lasting peace, it only seeks a little more breathing space and image building as it sets in place the control infrastructure to perpetuate itself in power," he said. Last July 8, Malacañang and the NDF said they are preparing to resume formal peace talks, with the looming restoration of immunity for NDF negotiators. NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni said the formal talks would be held in August 2009 in Oslo, Norway. “On behalf of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), I wish to announce that preparations are being made by the Negotiating Panels of the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) for the resumption of formal talks in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway sometime in August 2009," he said. - GMANews.TV