Defense, AFP chiefs told not to fight in public

MANILA, Philippines — Two senators on Friday called for a ceasefire between Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and military chief General Alexander Yano, urging them to discuss security issues privately and not through the media. Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Aquilino Pimentel Jr, in separate interviews with dzXL radio, chided the two security officials for publicly exposing their disagreement over a proposed ceasefire between the government and communist rebels. “Hindi dapat siguro naging public itong pagtatalo na to. Kung hindi nagusap sila sa headquarters, 'dun sa DND (Department of National Defense) or sa Armed Forces headquarters," said Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Yano on Thursday called for an “indefinite ceasefire" with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), which he said would advance the peace process that has been stalled since 2004. “We cannot have peace talks if there is continuing fighting ... I am sure that they will be amenable (to a ceasefire) and they will accept that offer because ceasefire is very important in any peace negotiation," he said, adding that a longer ceasefire will be more favorable to the country. Teodoro, however, countered Yano’s proposal, saying he does not intend to approve “any indefinite ceasefire." "I, for one, did not suggest any indefinite ceasefire with the NPA insofar as I'm concerned ... Probably it was just a suggestion but there's no official policy about an indefinite ceasefire with the NPA. I, for one, have not recommended it and as matter of fact I don't have any intention of approving any indefinite ceasefire," Teodoro said. He added that he is not keen on pursuing peace negotiations with the communist rebels as there is no longer a basis for the group's armed struggle following the repeal in 1992 of Republic Act 1700 which previously outlawed the CPP. Biazon, however, said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and not the two officials should make the decision regarding the government’s next move. “E ang dapat masunod yung national policymaker … Walang masusunod kung hindi ang president kahit salungat pa ang opinion ng kanyang chief of staff (It is the national nolicy maker who should be followed)," said Biazon. Pimentel called on Arroyo to mediate between the two in her capacity as commander-in-chief. He said she should step between them immediately before enemies of the government take advantage of the confusion. Former AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., now presidential adviser on the peace process, earlier urged the NPA to declare a three-year ceasefire as a necessary precondition for the resumption of suspended peace talks. But the CPP dismissed the statement as "worthless sound bytes." "Other than these statements by Arroyo's militarist peace adviser and the AFP spokesperson, the ruling regime has shown no interest at all in pursuing peace negotiations and has in fact been stalling and sabotaging it since it assumed power," the CPP said in its website PRWC. - GMANews.TV