MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 29 Mar) – Manila on Thursday called on the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to abandon their armed struggle and participate in democratic process.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita with the repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law the rebels now have the chance to participate in the parliamentary struggle under the party list concept.
"I call on them to lay down their arms and participate in the parliamentary struggle. Under our democratic system, they are given free space to participate," he said.
He also appealed to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to abandon its armed struggle for the sake and progress of the Filipinos.Ermita said the present lean crop of party list representatives has been given the democratic space and pushing well their principles and ideology in Congress.
"Let us do away with their objective of toppling this government with violent means. They should show their prowess in Congress instead,” he said.
But militant party list groups have accused Manila and the Armed Forces as behind extra-judicial killings across the country.
The CPP and its armed wing, the NPA and their allies said more than 800 political activists and members of militant party list group were murdered since President Gloria Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001.
The rebels celebrated its 38th anniversary on Wednesday with renewed calls to topple Arroyo’s government. (Mindanao Examiner)
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