MANILA, Philippines—A former official of the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is cautious over the appointment of yet another member of the Akbayan party-list group to a key position in the Aquino administration, especially with the forthcoming resumption of formal peace talks with the government. Satur Ocampo, a former NDFP spokes-person and Bayan Muna representative, said he hoped the designation of Akbayan president Ronald Llamas as President Aquino’s political adviser would not affect the peace negotiations between the government and the NDFP, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“If the Akbayan people now in government will instead push the government to take a hard-line position on the NDFP, it might make the negotiations difficult,” he told the Inquirer on Saturday. “They would be put in a compromising position if they would oppose the NDFP position.”
Llamas’ organization was founded by former NDFP members who broke away from the mainstream leftist movement, with which Ocampo’s Bayan Muna group is affiliated.
Akbayan has accused the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) of human rights abuses and carrying out targeted assassinations. The group openly suspects that some of its own leaders were included on the NPA “hit lists.”
Their differences are apparent, especially in the House of Representatives where they clash on matters like human rights violations.
While Bayan Muna maintains that only state agents can be primarily held responsible for human rights abuses such as torture and enforced disappearances, Akbayan is pushing for the accountability of “non-state actors” which would include the CPP-NPA.
Ocampo said the President should be “conscious of the dynamics within the left” before appointing people to his administration. Prior to naming Llamas, a shooting buddy, as his political adviser, Mr. Aquino designated Loretta Ann Rosales as chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Rosales is chair emeritus of Akbayan.
Ocampo acknowledged that such appointments would also have “nuances” in the upcoming formal peace talks with the NDFP, which is set to resume on February 15 until 21 in Oslo, Norway.
The former lawmaker said the decision to join the government was a “gamble” for Akbayan, which supported Mr. Aquino during the election campaign.
Ocampo’s group allied itself with Sen. Manuel Villar, who placed third in the presidential election.
“The pressure is on them. They’re taking a gamble here,” he said.
Christian Esguerra, Phil. Daily Inquirer
