AFP official proposes political settlement to end insurgency

MANILA, Philippines – A senior military official proposed yesterday a political settlement to end the decades-old communist insurgency in the country through the signing of a peace agreement to give rebels a graceful exit from the lingering conflict.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) chief, said in a statement that a peace agreement would give a graceful exit to rebels who regard themselves as freedom fighters.

“The current conditions are ripe for a peace process. We must seek a win-win, not a win-lose solution to a politically mature, persistent insurgency,” Cruz said.

“Given the consistent decline of (the communist rebellion) strength and influence, the group could pursue criminality or terrorism or they could individually exit from the movement but they could also transition toward a legitimate political process,” he said.

Cruz said the rebels could resort to non-violent political means to achieve its aims as the regime has changed from a dictatorship to a democracy since 1986.

“The CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) must recognize that it stands to lose for continuing a violent struggle,” he said.

Cruz said the AFP continues to respect the primacy of the peace process citing President Arroyo’s Command Guidance 2009-01-05-2200, which states that the way to achieve peace is through negotiation, not the use of guns.

The National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the communist rebels, said the group is ready to resume talks with the administration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III. –Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star)