‘CPP never sincere on peace talks; cannot win against govt– Atty. Alex Padilla

THE former head of the government’s peace negotiating panel with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), said the government should stop further peace talks with the communists, saying the latter are not really interested in a peace settlement.

Atty. Alexander ‘Alex’ Padilla, who defended many ranking communist leaders during martial law as a human rights lawyer, was the head of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) panel in peace talks with the CPP, thru the National Democratic Front (NDF), during the second Aquino administration (Pres. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III), from 2010 to 2013.

“They (CPP) are just using the talks to consolidate (“magpalakas”) their ranks,” Padilla said, during the January 29, 2021 edition of the ‘Report to the Nation Media Forum’ of the National Press Club (NPC).

At the time he was appointed, Padilla said he entertained “great hope” (“malaki ang pag-asa”) that national peace and reconciliation is still possible thru the peace talks.

Padilla added he entertained such hope as he was previously very close and intimate with the CPP leadership, dating back to his days as one of the student leaders at the University of the Philippines (UP)where he was enrolled at the College of Law from 1977 to 1981.

“Badmouthed” by the CPP

His 3-year tenure dealing with the CPP, however, was not a happy one.

“We were quarreling at the panel” (“bakbakan kami sa panel”), Padilla mused. This arose partly from the fact that those across from him at the table at the time—Fidel Agcaoili, Luis Jalandoni, Jose Maria Sison, among others—believed that he would be “easy” to deal with, considering his rapport with them.

“They (CPP panel) were badmouthing me, the insults they threw at me were terrible” (minumura ako ‘nung kabila; grabe ang inabot kong mga mura, insulto”) he added.

It was during this time, Padilla said, that he realized the CPP is really never sincere about the peace talks.

Looking back, Padilla said he remains “convinced” of two things: first, the government cannot defeat the communist insurgency “by military means alone” and second, the CPP cannot win against the government “because it is never in the hearts of Filipinos to become communists” (wala sa puso ng mga Pilipino ang maging komunista).

AFP, security sector needs to reform, change

Padilla agreed to guest at the NPC forum to also air his side after his name and those of his fellow students at UP—some 40 years ago—appeared in an Armed Forces (AFP) “list” of UP graduates who became “members” of the CPP.

“It (release of the list) is frightening especially to the likes of us,” said Padilla, who had spent over 20 years of his life in government service, dating back to 1986, when he became Pres. Corazon Aquino’s first customs commissioner.

Although he admitted of being a student leader at UP during the martial law years, Padilla said “none” of them in the AFP list actually joined the CPP or its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). “We are all leaving peaceful and successful lives, we believe in democracy and human rights,” he stressed.

However, Padilla said he “very much” appreciated and commended Department of National Defense (DND) secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, for taking “a bold action” when the defense chief ordered the immediate relief of M/Gen. Alex Luna, the AFP deputy chief for intelligence (J2) for the release of the list, which Lorenzana had described as an “unpardonable lapse.”

(See related story in this issue).

Beyond this, Padilla called on the AFP and the national security sector to still conduct and “internal investigation” over the incident. “First of all, why release the list at all, where did it came from,” he asked.

He added the public had always been wanting to see “reforms” in the AFP. “There must be genuine reforms…re-examination by the AFP and our security sector.”

Padilla said such list by the military is not only disturbing but more so, “frightening,” especially for those who are not as well-known as himself.