Marcos has military's ‘full support’ over amnesty for rebels: AFP chief | ABS-CBN
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Marcos has military's ‘full support’ over amnesty for rebels: AFP chief
Marcos has military's ‘full support’ over amnesty for rebels: AFP chief
Willard Cheng,
ABS-CBN News
Published Dec 06, 2023 05:37 PM PHT
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MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it was giving its "full support" to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following his recent grant of amnesty to former communist rebels.
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it was giving its "full support" to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following his recent grant of amnesty to former communist rebels.
“Solid… full support kami kay Presidente,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner.
“Solid… full support kami kay Presidente,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner.
Brawner made the statement after media reports quoted him as having said that some soldiers shared the stance of Vice President Sara Duterte, who recently urged Marcos to review his amnesty proclamations and opposed an agreement to restart peace talks with communist rebels.
Brawner made the statement after media reports quoted him as having said that some soldiers shared the stance of Vice President Sara Duterte, who recently urged Marcos to review his amnesty proclamations and opposed an agreement to restart peace talks with communist rebels.
Brawner declined to elaborate on the reports, saying: “Huwag na, para hindi ma-divide.”
Brawner declined to elaborate on the reports, saying: “Huwag na, para hindi ma-divide.”
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“Tignan niyo yung buo (yung interview), kasi parang ki-nut lang e. Tignan niyo yung buo,” he said.
“Tignan niyo yung buo (yung interview), kasi parang ki-nut lang e. Tignan niyo yung buo,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President's sister Sen. Imee Marcos said the peace talks should be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, the President's sister Sen. Imee Marcos said the peace talks should be reconsidered.
“Yes,” Sen. Marcos said, when asked if she shared Duterte’s view. “that’s the short answer. I’ll give you a statement when I’m ready.”
“Yes,” Sen. Marcos said, when asked if she shared Duterte’s view. “that’s the short answer. I’ll give you a statement when I’m ready.”
“Medyo nalilito pa rin ako sa peace talk na yan pagkat narinig naman natin si [National Democratic Front negotiator Luis] Jalandoni na nagsaad na kahit may peace talk ay mananatili pa rin ang mithiin nila, ang goal nila na ibagsak ang pamahalaan. Bakit ganoon? Nag-peace talk ka pa?” the senator added.
“Medyo nalilito pa rin ako sa peace talk na yan pagkat narinig naman natin si [National Democratic Front negotiator Luis] Jalandoni na nagsaad na kahit may peace talk ay mananatili pa rin ang mithiin nila, ang goal nila na ibagsak ang pamahalaan. Bakit ganoon? Nag-peace talk ka pa?” the senator added.
The last time peace talks were held was during the administration of the Vice President's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte -- a self-declared socialist and a former student of Jose Maria Sison, who launched the decades-long insurgency.
The last time peace talks were held was during the administration of the Vice President's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte -- a self-declared socialist and a former student of Jose Maria Sison, who launched the decades-long insurgency.
The peace talks under the previous administration devolved into threats and recrimination, with Duterte officially cutting them off in 2017, declaring the group a terrorist organization and accusing them of killing police and soldiers while negotiations were underway.
The peace talks under the previous administration devolved into threats and recrimination, with Duterte officially cutting them off in 2017, declaring the group a terrorist organization and accusing them of killing police and soldiers while negotiations were underway.
The ongoing armed struggle, launched in 1969, grew out of the global communist movement and found fertile soil for recruitment among the Philippines' rural poor.
The ongoing armed struggle, launched in 1969, grew out of the global communist movement and found fertile soil for recruitment among the Philippines' rural poor.
At its peak in the 1980s, the group boasted about 26,000 fighters, a number the military says has now dwindled to less than 2,000.
At its peak in the 1980s, the group boasted about 26,000 fighters, a number the military says has now dwindled to less than 2,000.
Successive Philippine administrations have held peace talks with the communists through their Netherlands-based political arm, the NDF.
Successive Philippine administrations have held peace talks with the communists through their Netherlands-based political arm, the NDF.
The latest effort followed informal discussions in the Netherlands and Norway that began in 2022 and were facilitated by the Norwegian government, officials told reporters in Manila.
The latest effort followed informal discussions in the Netherlands and Norway that began in 2022 and were facilitated by the Norwegian government, officials told reporters in Manila.
Brawner earlier said the resumption of talks was "very good news for us".
Brawner earlier said the resumption of talks was "very good news for us".
"If this conflict will finally end, your Armed Forces of the Philippines will be able to shift our focus to external or territorial defense," Brawner said.
"If this conflict will finally end, your Armed Forces of the Philippines will be able to shift our focus to external or territorial defense," Brawner said.
But until there was a "final agreement", he said the military would "continue our operations against the New People's Army", the armed wing of the Philippines' communist party.
But until there was a "final agreement", he said the military would "continue our operations against the New People's Army", the armed wing of the Philippines' communist party.
— With a report from Agence France-Presse
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