The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday rejected any move to revive peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), saying that such talks no longer reflect the will or interests of the Filipino people. In a statement, National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr. backed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., affirming that reopening talks with what he described as a “spent, isolated, and criminal armed group” would undermine hard-won gains in peace and development. This stemmed from the call of former peace negotiators batting for a resumption of peace talks in the wake of the April 19 encounter between the military and insurgents in Toboso, Negros Occidental that left 19 people dead. “The Filipino people are not asking for a return to negotiations that have historically been abused,” said Oban, who is also the vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). “What they demand are tangible improvements in their lives—security, livelihoods, justice, and protection from violence," he added. Oban said that decades of negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF have failed to produce lasting peace. Instead, he said these engagements were repeatedly used by the insurgent movement as a “tactical instrument for recovery,” allowing it to regroup and sustain its operations while projecting political legitimacy. Oban recalled that since the time of former president Corazon Aquino, successive peace initiatives were exploited to rebuild underground networks and maintain influence in vulnerable communities, even as armed units allegedly continued extortion, recruitment, and violent activities. The NSC chief warned that reviving national-level talks at this stage would only provide a “veneer of credibility” to an insurgency that has significantly declined on the ground. He said that communities once affected by conflict have increasingly rejected the NPA and are now embracing governance, development, and democratic participation. “These gains were not negotiated in foreign venues or handed down through formal talks,” Oban said. “They were built by communities themselves—through courage, partnership with government, and a shared commitment to move beyond decades of armed struggle," he added. Instead of returning to national negotiations, Oban highlighted the government’s shift toward localized peacebuilding efforts through mechanisms such as the NTF-Elcac and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, working alongside local government units. These initiatives, he said, focus on addressing the root causes of conflict at the community level—delivering basic services, strengthening institutions, and supporting reintegration programs for former rebels. “The door remains open for individuals who sincerely renounce armed struggle,” Oban said. “But the State cannot and must not elevate criminal and terrorist activities into a legitimate political cause through another round of national-level talks.” The NSC chief underscored that the government’s priority was the protection and welfare of its citizens, not the rehabilitation of armed groups that continue to threaten peace. “The Philippine State is not at war with its people,” Oban said. “It is protecting its people from those who persist in spoiling the peace.”
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