Lorenzana backs peace talks with Abu Sayyaf
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana believes that peace talks with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will be more fruitful compared to negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
Lorenzana made the statement on Sunday as he expressed support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call on the terrorist ASG to hold peace talks with the government, citing the signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) last week.
“Yes, I do [support the peace talks with the ASG]. If we have peace talks with the CPP, why not the ASG?” Lorenzana told reporters in a text message.
Lorenzana
Also last week, Duterte called on members of the Abu Sayyaf not to cause any conflict while the BOL is being implemented in southern Mindanao even as he hoped that Muslim rebels would give the new law a chance.
In a separate message to The Manila Times, Lorenzana said he sees that the proposed peace talks with the ASG will turn out to be more worthwhile than with the communist rebels, whom he had slammed several times recently.
“I think so too. Two reasons for that: They [ASG] are in a small area in Basilan and Sulu whereas the CPP-NPA is nationwide [and]the ASG are lesser in number compared to the communist insurgents,” he added.
The Defense chief, however, explained that his support for the peace talks with the ASG is only limited to those who have not committed capital offenses such as kidnapping and beheading of foreigners and Filipinos.
“[We are open with the peace talks] especially to those who have not committed capital offenses. Those [who]decapitated hostages will have to answer for their crimes,” Lorenzana said.
“Yes, there are already surrenders and more feelers [from the ASG],” he added, when asked if the proposed negotiations with the terrorist group would prosper.
In March, Nhurhassan Jamiri, a notorious leader of the Abu Sayyaf, yielded to the military in Basilan along with 13 of his followers in the terrorist group.
Jamiri was the overall Abu Sayyaf commander operating in several Basilan towns including Tuburan, Albarka, Tipo-tipo, Akbar, Mohamad Adjul and Lamitan City for kidnap-for-ransom and extortion activities.
His group was involved in the Fort Pilar bombing in Zamboanga City in 2002, the ambush of Marines in 2007 that left 24 Marines dead, the killing of 19 Philippine Army special forces students in Albarka and the 2001 Lamitan City siege.
Jamiri’s group was also involved in hijacking of Vietnamese vessels and sailors crossing the Basilan Strait.
Lorenzana, in April, said the Abu Sayyaf leader will not be off the hook despite his surrender to the government and will make him accountable for his crimes during his ASG days.
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