Lorenzana to NPA rebels: Lay down your arms, your cause has become irrelevant

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday urged members of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, to "lay down their arms and rejoin the society."

"Your cause has become irrelevant. Do not be the spoilers of peace, progress and development. If you could not win [in] 49 years, what made you think you could salvage victory in the next 50?" Lorenzana said in a statement.

"Come down, you owe your families and children a life of peace and stability. Let us join hands to build a better Philippines," he added.

The defense chief issued his call ahead of the NPA's 49th founding anniversary on March 29.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, have "intensified its effort to thwart possible attacks and atrocities" by the communist rebels for their upcoming anniversary.

AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin said that such attacks of the rebels against the people and government troops are "terroristic nature" and shows a "clear reflection of their true color as a criminal and terrorist organization."

President Rodrigo Duterte has officially terminated the government's peace negotiations with the communist rebels in November last year. On March 6, he said that he would consider resuming peace negotiations with the rebels if they will declare a "ceasefire."

He had also signed a proclamation categorizing the CPP and the NPA as terrorist groups. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/RSJ, GMA News