ANAD party-list wants govt to end peace talks with communist rebels

BUTUAN CITY — The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) party-list called on President Aquino to end all peace negotiations with the Maoist rebels, saying the communists continue to insist on having belligerency status like a sovereign nation. This is a clear violation of the guiding policies of the peace talks, according to ANAD. ANAD, which claims to be a pro-democracy organization, slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) statement that the four BJMP personnel abducted in Kitao-kitao, Bukidnon last July 21 were ‘prisoners of war" (POW) and that Lingig Mayor Henry Dano and his two Philippine Army security escorts, abducted last Aug. 6, be probed and tried before an NPA court. In a statement forwarded to GMA News Online, ANAD Party-list Representative Jun Alcover claimed it is unfair for government to negotiate peace with a group whose obsession and goals are anathema to peace. “How can they do that when they are not even recognized and extended the status of belligerency by any sovereign state in the world or international organization of nations like the United Nations? They are terrorists and nothing more!" Alcover said. Alcover said his group condemns the NPA for its blatant and highly outrageous display of disrespect to the sacred human rights which they themselves always paraded to uphold and protect. “With these, they have unmasked their lies and deceptive skill against the Filipino people," he added. “Now they are showing their real character that knows no one but their own party and the only way to get hold of power in government is through the effective and sustained use of violence against humanity," said Alcover, a former NPA political officer and commander in Eastern and Central Visayas who now leads a pro-democracy group strongly opposed to communist terrorism. — Ben Serrano/VS, GMA News