AFP dares Ka Roger to join peace negotiations

While it "welcomed" his return, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday dared Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal to take a more active role in the peace process. AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said it would be better for Rosal, who issued a New Year message last Dec. 31, to join the National Democratic Front's peace panel and help its negotiating team. "We welcome this development. We feel Ka Roger is one of the more level-minded persons in the underground movement and we welcome this. We feel he can be part of the negotiating team. Kung talagang buhay siya (If he is really alive) we welcome this. He can be part of the team that will pave the way for more lasting peace," Mabanta said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Government and NDF negotiators are set to engage in informal talks in Norway on Jan. 14 to 18 prior to the resumption of formal negotiations next month. The NDF is the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). On New Year's Eve, Rosal appeared to quash rumors of his illness and death when he issued a New Year message, which was posted on the CPP website. In his New Year message, Rosal urged the CPP to "renew our resolve to achieve revolutionary change," but did not make any reference to his health. Promptly, Malacañang scored Rosal's message. "We’re dismayed at that kind of statement because it’s not helping the peace talks. Others will have a hard time believing that the NDF is joining the negotiations in good faith." said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang in a radio interview Sunday. Mabanta, for his part, said they had thought Rosal had died because he had been silent for so long. Still, Mabanta said the AFP will want more evidence other than the statement to show Rosal is indeed alive. "Sa tagal ng hindi niya nagpaparamdam e ang pagkaalam namin pumanaw na siya (For so long he has kept silent, so we thought he was dead)," he said. Successful truce? Meanwhile, Mabanta maintained the Christmas ceasefire from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3 was a success, with only two "minor" incidents. He said the incidents were recorded in Negros and Mindoro, which he said were "just minor" and will not deter the ceasefire from "paving the way for peace negotiations." He said the Mindoro incident involved a rebel who wanted to surrender, while the second involved the ambush of a paramilitary member in Negros. The two incidents will be taken up with the NDF negotiating team, he said. On the other hand, he said the government is ready to look into so-called violations as claimed by the CPP. "Yan ang sabi, ang pinakaimportante, bigay sa amin ang detalye para pag-usapan namin (That is their claim. They should give us the evidence to back their claims and we will talk about it)," he said. Rebel returnees Meanwhile, Mabanta claimed a "handful of rebels" surrendered to the government while the ceasefire was in effect. The ceasefire ends midnight of Monday. "I'd just like to inform everyone during the ceasefire there are a handful of rebels na nag-surrender (who surrendered)," he said. "We just welcomed some of these rebels back to the fold of the law," he added, but did not give additional details. — RSJ, GMANews.TV