PNoy to let peace panel decide on NPA truce

MALOLOS, Bulacan — It will be up to government negotiators if they will ask the New People’s Army for a ceasefire while peace negotiations with the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines are ongoing, President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday. “We leave it up to the peace panel. They are actively engaging the CPP-NPA-NDF in a dialogue, in a continuing dialogue," Aquino said at a press briefing after attending the regional development council meeting here. In a statement, presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos-Deles said negotiations are more difficult “when there is no accompanying ceasefire on the ground." “Hostile attacks such as the one conducted by the NPA... in 3 mining areas in Surigao del Norte undermine people's confidence in the peace process, creating a 'disconnect' between agreements made on the peace table and what is happening on the ground," she said. PNoy dissatisfied Aquino has openly expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of government security forces following Monday’s attacks on three mining sites in Surigao del Norte by NPA rebels. “I have instructed our security forces that I was not happy with their performance in this particular incident. Iyong potential for a risk, iyong mga disaster was very evident," he said. Following the attacks, Aquino ordered a nationwide threat assessment and a review of operational procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening. “Maraming na-relieved sa kanilang mga puwesto, nagdagdag ng mga security forces ang estado at ina-undertake iyong mga corrective actions," he said, referring to the actions taken by the government after the attacks. National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome had relieved from post Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Talento, head of the Surigao del Norte police; Superintendent Rudy Cuyop, public safety battalion commander in the area; and Senior Inspector Diomedes Cuadra, chief of police in Claver town where the mining sites were located. Bleak Christmas Aquino pointed out that it was the mining firms’ 5,000 to 6,000 employees who were affected the most by the attacks. “Lahat ng mga magagawa diyan kasama na iyong allowances, suweldo, etc. Kapag natigil iyong operations roughly about P12,000 per employee [ang mawawala]. So ngayon pa lang tinitingnan na nila Pasko nila mukhang malungkot," he said. “Iyan po ang idinulot nitong mga NPA na ito sa pagsalakay na ito. Iyong humigit kumulang lima o anim na libong magagawa," he added. Ten dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guest house were burned in the attacks perpetrated by the NPA's Guerrilla Front 16, 30 and 21 Monday, according to the military. First to be attacked was the Taganito Mining Corp at Taganito village in Claver town at around 9 a.m. Twenty minutes later, the rebels attacked the 4K Mining at Cadiano village, also in Claver. At around 12:30 p.m., a separate NPA group raided the Thpal Mining, near the compound of the Taganito Mining Corp., its sister company. The attack prompted Nickel Asia Corp., the Philippines' largest nickel producer, to suspend mining operations and nickel ore loading activities at its Taganito Mining Corp unit following Monday's attack. Taganito is the biggest of the four mines of Nickel Asia, partly owned by Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. - KBK, GMA News